Peter,
Gunns Toy Fair in Ilkeston was the definite highlight of my year and was at the Rutland Hotel when I remember it. I still remember the year I wanted the Hornby operating mail set that was in the catalogue but not yet available, Gunns actually put together the individual components for me. One year, they left the small layout from the toy fair with the owners of the Rutland Hotel and it was given to me as I knew the landlords son, happy days ! I still have the H&M Duette from that layout at the club somewhere. Do you remember Thorpes in Ilkeston that sold lots of model railway stuff, including Hornby Minitrix, and also Goodwins that had sold Hornby Dublo but many years previously (I also knew the owners of that shop and they gave me some residual Dublo stuff when I was a child years after Dublo had disappeared.). Thorpes is still there but I assume no longer sells model railways, I do remember buying loads of brand new Triang super 4 track that they found in their storerooms in the early '80s. There was also a shop that sold double glazing, kitchens and Lima (!) at the bottom of Bath Street in the middle-late '80s.
Dave