If this is ok with @Richard.Dane I thought a thread could be useful where forum members recommend good secondhand record stores. Hopefully this could expand into a resource when visiting new locations. The Discogs app is very good, but a personal recommendation with added detail is always useful.
Starting off with a visit to Clocktower Music in Bridport. New & used vinyl, very well stocked, plus some vintage Hi-Fi too. No internet sales (out of choice), but they can do mail order. A system in place where all rare or good quality LPs are housed in re-sealable sleeves and labelled “Please ask to see condition” to protect the records from poor handling and keep them in good order - liked that. A very helpful and knowledgable owner too - highly recommended.
Looks good. Mine is vinyl exchange manchester. Great shop and nice staff.
Last week i bought jazz at the philharmonic complete box set. Which is hard to find.
I do not think it was ever played.
South Wales
Swansea Bay Records - in Swansea Market.
Both Cds and LPs but I don’t have turntable so can’t comment on how LPs are looked after. Spoke with Owner who seemed to take care.
North Wales
Cob Records in Porthmadog - went there regularly when living in Barmouth.
Sonic Boom in Toronto and PVC Records in Oakville Canada. Both are great and both are very different. One is huge and caters more to a younger crowd and PCV is smaller but caters a bit more to the audiophile community I sense.
Pre covid I used to like visiting charity shops and looking for CDs that are missing from my collection.
Now in covid days, I do all my music shopping online. I tend to go to “Resident Records” website, much in the way I would have gone to the store in Brighton for a browse now and again. I would also visit most of the secondhand record stores around Brighton, most of which are in the North Laine area.
Since recently discovering World of Books I’ve bought numerous cds, not sure I’d buy vinyl, but I’m sure I will try some. In Wolverhampton Oldies Unlimited and Vinyl and Vintage are great. I’ve bought lots of cds in charity shops in recent years, one I call into regularly sells cds and dvds 5 for £1. If they’re no good they get donated back.
I like Flashback, on the Essex Road in Islington. Very nice staff and always worth a browse. And Reckless in Soho. Same.
They’re kinda my only two regulars…I go to Sister Ray over the road from Reckless, but not as frequently now they’ve moved to smaller premises - I don’t seem to find as many goodies as I used to
(on LP, tbh I don’t really check the CD racks in any record shop).
If you’re shopping in Wolverhampton, don’t forget Stay Loose Records in the alley next to Waterstones. New and used records, some cd’s and a very informative owner.
Quicksilver in Southport is a nice little shop. Lot’s of new and used vinyl and CDs at reasonable prices. The owner puts an amusing weekly video on Facebook showing what new stock he’s got in.
I visited Dig Vinyl and Probe Records in Liverpool at the weekend. They are both worth checking out too.
It’s Eil and I had a bad experience (dirty vinyl and ripped inner) so stopped using them. Flashback is excellent - avoid Saturday - and only one worth left in north London after Haggle Vinyl closed down a few years ago.
