More Than Music: Backing the UK’s Independent Record Shops

This year, Record Store Day lands on Saturday 12th April – a nationwide celebration of independent record shops, vinyl culture, and the communities built around them.

Because a record shop isn’t just a shop.
It’s a space.
Where staff remember your favourite genre.
Where you stumble across something you didn’t know you needed.
Where music is physical, and conversations are real.

That still counts – for a lot – in a world built on swipe and scroll.
Streaming’s easy. Instant, endless, effortless.
But people still choose to show up, dig through crates, and ask, “What’s good?”
That choice? It speaks volumes.

Record shops keep local culture alive.
They create jobs, spark creativity, and turn shopping into something human.
These are the places where people talk, connect, and discover – no algorithms, no add-to-cart.

Whether you’re a vinyl collector or just curious, here are a few iconic independent record shops across the UK worth a visit:

• Piccadilly Records, Manchester
  A Northern icon. Massive selection, passionate staff, and a cornerstone of the city’s music scene.
• Resident, Brighton
  One of the best-curated shops on the south coast, with everything from new releases to reissues and a brilliant in-store atmosphere.
• Jumbo Records, Leeds
  Open since 1971, Jumbo is all about discovery. Expect recommendations you didn’t know you needed.
• Drift, Totnes
  More than a record shop – Drift is an indie institution. Beautifully designed space, and a real champion of artists and vinyl culture.
• Spillers, Cardiff
  Recognised as the oldest record shop in the world, and still fiercely independent. A must-visit for music lovers in Wales (that said if you’re not local, it’s probably worth the trip!)

Where Local Life Comes In
We’re not here to sell you records.
We’re here to help you find the places that do – the ones that care what’s playing, who’s listening, and what it means to show up in person.

Because the real world still matters. And places like this are worth protecting.

So this Saturday, skip the stream and step into something real.
You might leave with a record, but you’ll take home more than music.

https://www.recordstoreday.co.uk

– Inspired by the people and places shaping real retail.