EVER wondered whether that old chair was actually a Chippendale or what your 1950s crockery collection was really worth?

Now Bournemouth antiques emporium The Den is giving customers the chance to find out - from two celebrity experts.

Tomorrow on Saturday, October 5, Henry Nicholls and Karen Dalmeny from Dickinson's Real Deal will be at the Francis Avenue store, which re-opened this summer after the sudden closure of previous enterprise Molly's Den.

Karen, who started trading antiques when the was eight, and Henry are family friends of The Den's co-owner, James Irvine, and are well-known to viewers of the Real Deal, where they value items for participants who then have to decide whether to take the price offered or put their item up for auction.

There'll be no auctions on October 5, however, says James "Instead we'll be asking for a valuation fee of £2 per item, which will go to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust in gratitude for the way they cared for my partner's mother."

James believes that customers will enjoy meeting the experts and may even walk away the richer, after discovering that an item is worth more than they thought, as entry to the fundraiser is free. "If Karen or Henry want an item, they may even make them an offer for it!" he said.

The Den re-opened with a party and a new look in July after James and his partner rescued the previous enterprise after it was shut down by administrators.

Among its traders are the BCP councillor for Bearwood and Merley, David Brown, who trades as Back to the Eighties. He said The Den has customers from all over the UK and has even received visits from The national TV and Radio Museum to buy items.

The valuation day starts at 9.30am and will take place in specially-created area of the emporium