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Britain's best record shops
Graham Jones' pick of the six must-visit record stores in the UK
Acorn Records
Acorn Records
3 Glovers Walk
Yeovil
BA20 1LH
Tel: 01935 425503
Website: www.acornmusic.co.uk
Acorn Records is a Yeovil shop known for its friendly customer service and knowledgeable staff, including evergreen 82 year old Mavis Slater. She is the oldest record store assistant I know and her music knowledge would put most teenagers to shame. It seems like she has been working in the music industry since Thomas Edison made his first discs.
Coda Music
Coda Music on The Mound
On The Mound
12 Bank Street
Edinburgh
EH1 2LN
Tel: 0131 622 7246
Website: www.codamusic.co.uk
Located up the hill from Edinburgh’s Waverley station, Coda Music is in a beautiful location looking down on Princes Street. The shop’s range of folk and traditional Scottish music attracts visitors from all over the world. Owners Dougie and Rose had a vision – to open a shop where the public would receive quality service from staff who knew about music. It has certainly worked.
The Diskery
The Diskery
99 Bromsgrove Street
Birmingham
B5 6QB
Tel: 0121 622 2219
If the Dr Who producers ever wished to locate an episode in a typical 60s record shop then The Diskery would be their natural choice. The shop has hardly changed in 40 years.
Posters from a bygone era adorn the walls, including original Beatles, Elvis Presley and Eddie Cochran material. Whilst the shop is packed with vinyl and music memorabilia, my favourite item is a newspaper article pinned to the wall informing you that in 1969, Delia Smith baked the cake which featured on the front cover of the Rolling Stones album Let It Bleed.
The Diskery stocks an amazing collection of old wind-up gramophones; copies of Melody Maker (from as far back as 1947); matchbox cars and a selection of photographs from the Carry On movies.
Personally, I think that Morris, the owner, is missing a trick - he should turn the shop into a music museum and charge an admittance fee.
Duck, Son & Pinker
Duck, Son & Pinker
12 Northgate
Bath
BA1 5AS
Tel: 01225 465975
Website: www.ducksonandpinker.co.uk
Set in a beautiful Georgian building, Duck, Son & Pinker is like a record shop was in the 90s - the 1890s that is! A visit here is like a trip back in time. If the shop in the sitcom Are You Being Served called Grace Brothers was a record store then this would be it. At anytime you expect to hear the cry of 'I'm free!' or hear a joke about Mrs Slocomb’s pussy. The shop is in need of a lick of paint and some of the racking is that old that it was originally designed to hold 78s.What it does have however is character, old-fashioned charm and quality customer service like you used to receive in days gone by and a stock of music that shouts NOSTALGIA with a capital N.
Record Collector
Record Collector
233 Fulwood Road
Broomhill
Sheffield
S10 3BA
Tel: 0114 266 8493
If ever a man deserved an award to services to the music industry then it is Barry Everard, owner of Record Collector. Since he opened his shop in 1978 he has been at the forefront of promoting Sheffield bands. He was even involved in suggesting music for the film The Full Monty, parts of which were filmed in Sheffield. Anyone calling in is encouraged to say hello to Barry as he will be happy to share some of his great anecdotes about life in the music industry. You will recognise him as he will be wearing a Hawaiian shirt on (he has been wearing the same style for over 30 years).
Spillers Records
Spillers Records
36, The Hayes
Cardiff
CF10 1AJ
Tel: 029 20224905
Website: www.spillersrecords.co.uk
Opened in 1894, Spillers is recognised as the oldest record shop in the world. Owner Nick Todd is a Cardiff legend, and loves nothing better than championing good music. In 2006 the shop was threatened with closure, and over 20,000 people including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Beyonce signed a petition of support. Luckily for the people of Cardiff, Spiller’s is still standing. Any music fan visiting the city must check it out especially if you are a fan of blues or country as their selection is second to none.
Last Shop Standing
Graham Jones is the author of Last Shop Standing: Whatever Happened To Record Shops?, published by Proper Music Publishing at £12.95. You can buy this book at a discount from the Saga Book Shop.
