What a slog it's been. Endless days inside the same four walls; lost income; no human contact. And yet there are always those who have had it worse. Our beloved record stores, to name just one.
Closed indefinitely, then opening on and off but never quite sure when their doors may close again, these linchpins of British musical history have been through the mill, with little to no help from the government to see them through. But today (12 April) they reopen in England. Hopefully, this time, it'll be for good.
Make sure you get down to your local store and pick up some vinyl from them!
Here are some of our contributors' favourite spots.
Vinilo - Southampton
by Elisha Cloughton
Friendly Records - Bristol
Phonica Records - London
Phonica is a record store like no other. Tucked away next to a multi-storey car park on Poland Street in London’s Soho, it’s somewhat of a hidden gem, albeit very well-known to DJs and vinyl enthusiasts alike. The store is bright and airy, and has the feeling of a designer Manhattan loft with its minimalist interior, deep leather sofas and sparse shelving. New releases are displayed on the wall behind the counter at the back of the store. Alongside the new releases sits a bank of listening turntables; to any newbies this might seem daunting but the warm welcome from the staff and their in-depth knowledge will make anyone feel at home.
Having opened in 2003, Phonica is a fair bit younger than some of its Soho neighbours. Known primarily as a supplier of dance records, it has an impressive range of house, techno and disco records, but they stock a good variety of other genres too and are always willing to respond to an evolving music scene. They also run some fantastic events in their store, if you can remember what events are. We can’t wait to get back to leaf through their record selection.
RPM - Newcastle
by Joe Smith
Hidden in a back alley, off one of the busiest squares in the North-East, stands RPM Music, a small record shop harbouring the best selection of new and second hand vinyls in Newcastle. When I first moved to the Toon, it was the first record shop I went to. Entranced by its Northeastern charm and the vast array of LP’s, I was in there for hours.
It swiftly became my record shop of choice, with a tonne of new LP’s being brought in every week, there was always something new to discover; and with the owners playing records of their choosing throughout the day, there was always new music to listen to. Offering up some wonderful, and reasonable, prices, there’s nothing to stop you leaving with upwards of five LP’s. You want a Blondie B-side, they’ll have it, a neo-soul album that only five people have heard of, they’ll have that too. The records are limitless, and no genre is out of bounds, it’s an assumption-free space: buy what you want, they won’t judge.
So please, lose yourself in this idyllic shop. Take in the posters of long-forgotten bands, being kept alive in the memory of the shoppers, and the fact that you can only fit around ten people in at one time, it’s a store shamelessly itself, and we love it for that.
Banquet - Kingston
by Hannah Browne
Nestled in Eden Street is Kingston-Upon-Thames' much loved and nationally-recognised charm, Banquet Records. Rising from the ashes of the Beggars Banquet chain in the early 2000s, it’s a vital hub in the heart of almost every music fan who grew up in the suburbs of London.
Fiercely independent and community-spirited, Banquet is a sundry and inclusive space where person-to-person recommendations offer more than an algorithm ever could (or not yet at least). It’s a place where music feels alive, with every shelf feeling like a musical history lesson about either the last 6 months or the last 30 years.
What makes Banquet special is their commitment to preserving the ‘indie’ - which is recognised now more than ever when running a physical store, club night and record label has never been tougher. Co-founder Jon Tolley is a local hero in vocalising the importance of the preservation of venues that are the lifeblood of the community. Whether it be the bygone eras of McClusky’s, The Peel, or The Hippodrome, Banquet has been there to make the industry’s voice heard in the fight against the reduction of cultural spaces. Regrettably, the market, licensing and politics can often win, but Banquet continues to give music fans hope that live music is here to stay. Support your local.
Sounds of the Universe - London
by Sofie Lindevall
Casually strolling around on vibrantly busy Soho streets may seem like a distant memory or even something from another life by now, but many of us can still recall the almost gravitational forces that have led countless music lovers and record collectors to the legendary Sounds of the Universe on Broadwick Street. The shop, opened in its current location in 2003, is associated with the label Soul Jazz Records and was founded by Stuart Baker when he started selling records from a Camden Market stall in the early '90s. Widely known for offering one of the best selections of reggae, house, disco, funk, soul and world beats in the UK, the store has been a constant in the ever-changing record store landscape.
The ground floor occupied by current records – new releases and reissues alike – is welcomely familiar yet intriguingly eclectic. Once you are in flicking through the racks of musical gems, it is not hard to get lost. However, the real challenge is getting back up from the basement filled with endless rows of rarities and books a floor down. Time has a tendency to become elastic in the space and a deep dive will most certainly be rewarding.
Square Records, Dorset
by Venita Kate Cutler
Wax and Beans - Bury
Wax and Beans are Bury’s premiere vinyl merchants. A fairly young venture, Ben and the team have established themselves with a great, varied selection of music and superb coffee. Wax and Beans have really captured the essence of what a record shop should be, its charming, romantic and the staff are walking rolodexes of musical knowledge and recommendations.
There’s always a great album blaring as you browse and the variety of music available to you is huge. They have a great mix of pre-loved, new and exclusive LP’s, 7"s and CDs. They had a great turn out at their first ever Record Store Day last year and they’re gearing up to make this one just as good. It’s my usual first stop come payday and I can’t wait to visit again when they open their doors today.
Spillers - Cardiff
by Josh Williams
Did you know that the oldest record shop in the world isn’t in London, or New York, or L.A. but actually Cardiff? Since 1894, Spillers Records has been serving the people of Cardiff for all their music needs with a few address changes along the way. Throughout lockdown, Spillers have been able to keep going with mail orders or collection orders all with their practically trademark friendly service whether it’s a nice note in with the package or a huge smile at the door.
What makes Spillers special is that it isn’t just another record store, it is an institution without which Cardiff would be so much darker. It is an institution that makes a point of supporting music that it loves with the likes of IDLES, The Joy Formidable, and many many more appearing in the shop and leaving their mark on its walls. It is an institution which the world would be significantly poorer without and it’s currently batting at 127 years not out. Here’s to another (at the very least!) 127 years of the world’s best independent record store.
