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Stratford Manor Hotel hosts one of the last in-person number plate auctions before they go online




Peter Cross from Hull has an unusual hobby which takes him all over the country: number plates.

Peter confessed to the Herald “I just love number plates.”

He was one of many enthusiasts who attended a DVLA personalised registration auction at the Stratford Manor Hotel last week (18th to 20th October) where the bidding was full on for that all important number plate which means so much to the lucky buyer.

His hobby can cost him up to £3,000 – money well spent in Peter’s opinion.

Often he’ll book into a hotel the night before so he’s ready for the big day.

Richard Holden MP, left, on the podium at the auction.
Richard Holden MP, left, on the podium at the auction.
Peter Cross from Hull was at the number plate auction in Stratford with his nephew, Daniel Robson. Peter is pictured with the brochure from the event which featured 1,000 registrations up for sale.
Peter Cross from Hull was at the number plate auction in Stratford with his nephew, Daniel Robson. Peter is pictured with the brochure from the event which featured 1,000 registrations up for sale.

“I’ve always had an interest in number plates,” Peter said. “I was at Chesterfield recently and now Stratford and I’ve bought my nephew, Daniel Robson, with me to see what happens. I just got into it a few years ago and visit two or three auctions a year to add more number plates to my collection along the way.”

Peter’s a happy man because he’s achieved his dream of owning a personalised number plate – not one but two and they spell his nickname Crossy.

“One is CR60SSY and the other is CR20SSY both cost around £3,000 and I’ve also got a lot of black and white number plates which I keep at home. It’s a lovely hobby,” Peter said.

He’s looking forward to the year 2030 because you only get the number zero in a registration every ten years.

Back in the hotel auction room the bids flew in within seconds of the lot being announced some from the floor, some by phone and some on the internet.

While the going rate for many of the number plates was between £3,000 and £4,000 some combinations of letters and numbers attracted a prolonged bidding battle with the sale price soaring to a pinnacle before the auctioneer’s gavel slapped down smartly indicating the sale was now a done deal.

Number plate 1999 KS sold for £2,400. While 98 JMW went for £4,800 and 1981 JM was bought for £5,100, and lot 419, III KSP had a starting price of £1,200 but was sold to an internet bidder for £11,000. Registrations on offer at Stratford included;

BA17 KER, F47 MER, P411 NTR, SUR 680N, C100 OWN and MON 8Y.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Roads and Local Transport), Richard Holden MP was the special guest at the event and took to the podium to auction one of the registration plates.

Mr Holden said: “Picking your own personalised registration is a great way to add a personal touch to your vehicle and the DVLA auction is a fantastic opportunity to find exactly what you’re looking for.

“With DVLA raising almost £15 million in the past three auctions, I’m particularly excited to be on the podium for the last ever in-person auction to seal some of the bids and see people take home their perfect registration.”

Lot 386 - II JWR was one of the 1,000 number plates up for auction. It had a starting price of £1,200 and was auctioned by Richard Holden. It fetched £7,000.

The auction in Stratford was the last in-person auction. All future auctions will be held exclusively online.



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