Having just thrown open the doors of its brand spanking new Manchester branch, 2016 certainly isn’t shaping up to be a slow one for the Prestige Pawnbrokers team. We’re already two episodes in to the latest Posh Pawn series, with episode 3 set to hit screens across the nation this evening.

James gets behind the wheel

As usual, James finds himself dabbling in yet another seriously luxe sports car. Only this isn’t your average set of sleek. Streamlined wheels. No, this sports car has undergone some pretty impressive modifications, which has left it with an eye watering price tag of £85,000. At least that’s the price James puts on it. Will the owner accept, or will he be unable to part with his beloved ride? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Claudia finds herself up to her neck in designer handbags

Next up, in-house designer handbag expert and self-confessed luxury brand addict Claudia heads to Germany. Her mission? To put a price tag on a large collection of bags owned by a former New York socialite. From Fifth Avenue to Rodeo Drive, she’s got high end handbags from across the globe. Needless to say, this episode is overflowing with sumptuously soft leather, lustrous buckles and silk linings.

From jewellery fiend to gym bunny

For those who love a bit of eye candy, the Posh Pawn team also cuts a deal with a female bodybuilder. With an impressive collection of luxury jewellery up her sleeve, she’s interested in selling up in order to fund her new hobby. As expected, Prestige’s in-house team of gold, diamond and gemstone experts jumped at the chance to get their hands on this glittering collection.

Vintage vino with a price tag to match

The action doesn’t stop here, with Posh Pawn HQ welcoming a golf fanatic with a passion for fine wines. In a bid to secure himself some extra cash, he’s flirting with the idea of pawning a case of fine wine. Vintage vino can fetch lucrative price tags, and the Prestige team are more than up for the challenge of valuing his collection.

As usual, the latest episode of Posh Pawn is packed full of quirky characters, high end items and of course, plenty of laughs. Don’t miss it, and remember to stay tuned over the next few weeks as James and the team have plenty more pawn star action in store!

Pawn addicts prepare! The UK’s favourite reality TV show is back, and this year the Posh Pawn team has some big surprises up its sleeve. Come February 3, James Constantinou and his team of self-confessed pawn stars will return for an all-new series that’s bigger, better and posher than ever. Channel 4 will be the station to tune into at 8pm on Wednesday nights, with Constantinou promising to serve up unmissable entertainment. Whether you can wear it, drive it, sail it, polish it or play it, Posh Pawn deals in it!

Prestige Pawnbrokers throws open its doors for another season

Since launching, Brits have been hooked on the show that unlocks behind the scenes access to the world of haute pawn. Cameras follow the team’s every move as they value high end items, call in the help of industry experts and deal with some seriously well-heeled clients. Not only does it showcase assets but the show also delves into the stories of their owners. From ex beauty queens to aspiring entrepreneurs, the latest series of Posh Pawn is sure to be peppered with a myriad of quirky characters.

The team returns for more top notch pawn

Right-hand woman Jo will join James in a managerial role, overseeing day to day operations and ensuring that everything’s in check. As well as last season’s experts such as memorabilia expert Lawrence and deal hunter Patrick, the new Posh Pawn series will also introduce viewers to a handful of new stars. Catherine, Ben and Howard will all join the Prestige Pawnbrokers team in 2016, bringing a wealth of expertise to Prestige Pawnbrokers Manchester.

So what’s in store for episode one? James gets his hands on a collection of ultra-rare items that are were allegedly owned by world famous Arctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton. While some people believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, an eccentric Soho celebrity decides to sell her collection of vintage Chanel handbags in a bid to finance her latest Botox procedure, as well as a shiny new bathroom.

Of course, a Posh Pawn episode wouldn’t be complete without some supercharged turbo action. James taking Jo out for a spin in a client’s luxurious Porsche is a not to be missed moment for any fan of German engineered supercars. While the ride is wild, the £35,000 loan could be on the rocks after James discovers a problem…

What happens next? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

Home to some of the wealthiest Brits in the UK, Manchester is brimming with high value items. When their well-heeled owners are strapped for cash, taking out asset loans is a fantastic way to boost bank accounts. While in the past they’ve had to head down to London to chat with the Posh Pawn team, James and his fellow pawn stars are ecstatic to announce that they’re throwing open the doors of a brand spanking new Manchester branch.

Posh Pawn launches with a bang

The new premises kicked off in style, with an official launch party held on December 10. As expected, the guest list was studded with stars, including antiques dealer Ian Towning and the legendary Jesse McClure from StorageHunters. ‘Queen of selfies’ Karen Danczuk also graced the party with her presence, chatting about pawn, politics and how to post the perfect Instagram pic.

Following in the footsteps of the London branches, the nee Manchester HQ enjoys a seriously prestigious location. It’s situated in Deansgate, home to some of the city’s most luxurious hotels, designer boutiques and high street shopping strips. After all, a posh location is an absolute must for Posh Pawn!

“Due to the popularity of the programme we got a lot of people from this neck of the woods coming down to see us,” says James. “We’ve had cars – Porches, Ferraris – and some amazing pieces of jewellery. We were even dealing with a Lowry painting a few days ago. It was given to the owner’s mother by the artist himself. It’s a Lowry figure with a cap on but it’s not the typical industrial scene. That fact that it has never been seen before is amazing so it was great to be involved in unearthing that.”

What a great way to kick of what’s sure to be one of Prestige Pawnbroker’s most successful branches!

The Posh Pawn Manchester branch is set to open its doors to the public early next year. No doubt it will be flooded with legions of Manchester locals looking to cash in their high end assets.

Prestige started back in 2009: with his background in business, sales and marketing, vintage cars and property development, the transition into pawnbroking made a great deal of sense to James. The original Posh Pawn documentary came soon after – and if you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you do! After the success of the documentary, we all know what happened next… the thing that completes our Wednesday nights: Posh Pawn the show.

We’ve come a long way since the start, and the journey only continues. If you’ve been loyal since the beginning, you’ll know what we’re about. Prestige is the ultimate king of pawnbrokers: we aren’t your average business, so we don’t deal with average items, preferring to focus on the expensive, the exclusive and – sometimes– the wacky. But whatever the object is, you can bet it’s high-end.

Season 1 showcased interesting finds and even more interesting characters. What’s engaging about the pawnbroking business isn’t simply the objects we value and acquire – although we do get excited about unique finds – it’s also the stories and histories behind the objects and their owners, as well as the satisfaction of helping someone get what they want. We’ve had a reformed 1980s cat burglar approach us, as well as a former catwalk model who wanted to borrow £50,000 to launch a range of lingerie – and we’ve had intriguing buys too, everything from Lamborghinis to a 40ft American motorhome. We’re all about providing the best in terms both of products and services. Whether you hope to realise a dream or simply raise funds, we aim to get the job done and to do it to your satisfaction.

The second season didn’t disappoint: we were back, bigger and better with another 9 episodes packed full of beautiful and quirky items and a whole lot of laughs. A Chelsea footballer showed off more than his football skills when he brought us a set of Rolex watches, and our James had the opportunity to value a unique item used by James Bond in one of the Bond movies. Speaking of memorabilia, a Swarovski-crystal covered drum kit used on a Kylie Minogue tour made its way to Hatton Garden. Other celebrities also featured this season when paintings by East End gangsters the Kray twins found a new home at Prestige. Finally, we’re suckers for the unusual and adventurous, so for us the yellow submarine worth a whopping 1.5 million definitely stole the show.

We’re now in our third season, 5 episodes in and taking a short interval –but fear not, we will be returning to you soon, and with more posh than you can handle! In the meantime, we’re airing every episode from the start of Posh Pawn daily at 11am on our usual home of Channel 4 from 26^th October. So stay with us, keep updated and look forward to the start of the next chapter of Posh Pawn. We certainly are!

The third series of Posh Pawn is well and truly underway, and James Constantinou and the rest of the team would like to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has watched the show over the past few months. So far this season included some seriously lavish assets and great locations, from the sunny shores of Spain and the beaches of Brighton to the boroughs of London and beyond.

As one of the UK’s most high profile businessmen, as well as one of the richest pawnbrokers on the planet, James has turned the concept of pawn broking on its head. During the early months of the 2009 recession he identified a gap in the market for loans catering to cash-poor yet asset-rich individuals. Today, Prestige Pawnbrokers is considered one of the UK’s most coveted secured loan providers. We may have already aired some fantastic season three episodes but we can confirm that the excitement isn’t over just yet! There’s still plenty more Posh Pawn to be had, with the show resuming in November.

James says, “While Prestige Pawnbrokers is first and foremost a business, Posh Pawn relies entirely on fans to retain its crown as one of Channel 4’s most popular shows. We’re now three seasons in and while the content is undeniably captivating, it’s British viewers that keep the show on its feet. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s tuned in during season three and after a quick break, we’re looking forward to sharing more of our most lucrative pawn deals when the season kicks off again in November. Watch this space!”

So far this season has seen the Prestige Pawnbrokers team take on some seriously well-heeled clients. James jetted into Lanzarote to value a million Euro wine collection, an unredeemed Aston Martin hit the auction blocks, a retired couple parted ways with their beloved back garden railway, a double decker bus came to a sticky end. Not to mention a glut of designer handbags, luxury watches, rare coins, exclusive collectables, fine works of art, treasured antiques and more.

If you’re a Posh Pawn fan don’t worry – the show will return this November! While the exact date and content are yet to be confirmed, you can be sure there’ll be lots of sparkle, designer labels, fast cars and plenty of action. See you then!

As managing director of Prestige Pawnbrokers, James Constantinou oversees one of the UK’s most coveted secured loans providers. So how did he go from small-time property developer, to celebrity pawn broker lighting up TV screens across the globe? Read on as we delve into how James got started in the industry, what drives the business to unsurpassed success and how he’s definitively reinvented the way the world views pawn.

The backstory

James is a self-confessed serial entrepreneur and has spent his career dabbling in a plethora of different areas. From vintage classic cars and property development to corporate sales and marketing, he’s developed a well-rounded set of skills that have turned him into a fierce businessman.

Pawnbroking

As an age-old practice, pawnbroking calls for a stack of different skills, from charming customers to spotting counterfeit goods. For James, high-end pawnbroking was the perfect opportunity to exercise his trading skills, while simultaneously indulging his passion for all things luxurious.

Prestige launches in London

James threw open the doors of Prestige Pawnbrokers in 2009, and hasn’t looked back since. Today he operates our two shops located in Richmond and Weybridge. Regular viewers of the show will know the business has been wildly successful and James credits this to his amazing team, and his willingness to say yes when others would say no. This bold search for success has led to the conquering of new heights. What’s James’ personal mantra? He always says, “I am a strong believer that to succeed in business you should have a hunger for gain, as opposed to a fear of loss.”

So what sorts of deals have graced the Prestige Pawnbrokers premises? James’ absolute favourites include a Ferrari Daytona worth £250,000, an art collection with a £1 million price tag, and rare literature that features in the Queen’s Windsor library.

Prestige Pawnbrokers hits Channel 4

Soon enough, Prestige Pawnbrokers caught the attention of the press, with James featuring in various articles and TV appearances. Thanks to dazzling deals involving helicopters, Ferraris, mini-submarines and more, he was approached by Channel 4 to feature in the reality show, Posh Pawn. The documentary follows the weird and wonderful assets that Prestige Pawnbrokers encounters on a daily basis, and has gone on to become one of the channel’s biggest hits. Episodes are broadcast across the globe and we’ve already signed on for a third season. Catch James on Channel 4 tomorrow at 8pm!