Saturday is record store day. Those of us who are interested in music know that Vinyl has made a startling resergence over the last couple of years. I excitedly looked at the nearest store checker for my local store. I intended to do a write up of the shops in Barnet and check them out over the next couple of day. Sadly I was shocked to find that there are no participating stores in the Borough.
The Borough of Barnet had a proud history of Record stores. In Mill Hill we had Derek Tynes store in the Broadway. We then had a record shop next to Budgens in what is now The Bridge Tavern. Later on Stephen Siger relocated from Edgware to Mill Hill. I bought many records from these outlets. I knew Stephen Sigers daughter Jackie from School and I was his last customer in Mill Hill before he closed.
In Burnt Oak, there was a record shop next to Burnt Oak station. I cant recall the name, but it achieved a degree of retropsective fame as BBC Radio London presenter Robert Elms worked there. In Edgware, as well as Stephen Siger, we had Loppylugs. They were also based in a small shop in Finchley central. To be honest I didn't shop much at Loppylugs as they were more a chart and soul shop which wasn't to my taste.
Hendon also had a decent record shop by the 113 bus stop. I can remember fnding a copy of "Your Saving Grace" by the Steve Miller band in 1978 that had sat in the shelf since 1969. I was chuffed.
Then there was Our Price in Brent Cross. Given my unusual tastes, I usually shopped at the Mill Hill shops and they would order in records specially for me. I'd often order two or three copies for mates. I can remember ordering six copies of Live at The Witch Trials by the Fall, for mates I'd persuaded that they were the best thing since sliced bread. The long suffering Neil, who managed the shop spent hours tracking down the distributors of Step Forward records. He was a soul boy, but soon recognised that there were a few people in Mill Hill who he could sell obscure punk to. He'd order stuff in and I'd feel duty bound to buy it. Much of that is now worth good money.
But now we have no such stores in the Borough. When Tory MP Matthew Offord was seeking election in 2010, he famously said that he wanted Mill Hill Broadway to be the type of place where people open cheese shops. It would be great if they wanted to open record stores as well. Could a record store work in Mill Hill? Well I was told that a studio couldn't yet now we have 1,000 musicians a week visiting us. I think record stores have to be fit for purpose in the year 2016, but if you look at Rough Trade they have done a great job. I'd love to see Mill Hill become a go to location for record buyers (maybe on the way to the studio).
One store that isn't listed on the locator is run by a Borough of Barnet Legend, Mr Boz Boorer. Checkout https://www.vinylhub.com/shop/6769-Vinyl-Boutique-Records for details.
There is of course Alan's records in East Finchley, who are also not listed
The stores that do come up are :-
Les Aldrich Music Ltd
- 4.77 Miles
98 Fortis Green Road , Muswell Hill , London, NH10 3HN
98 Fortis Green Road , Muswell Hill , London, NH10 3HN
Tel: 020 8883 5631 |
View Website
Audio Gold
- 5.38 Miles
308-310 Park Road, Crouch End, London, N8 8LA
308-310 Park Road, Crouch End, London, N8 8LA
Tel: 020 8341 9007 |
View Website
Sounds That Swing
- 7.02 Miles
88 Parkway, Camden Town, London, NW1 7HB
88 Parkway, Camden Town, London, NW1 7HB
Tel: 0207 267 4682 |
View Website
All Ages Records
- 7.16 Miles
27a Pratt Street, Camden , London, NW1 0BG
27a Pratt Street, Camden , London, NW1 0BG
Tel: 0207 267 0303 |
View Website
Sounds Of The Universe
- 8.59 Miles
7 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 0DA
7 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 0DA
Tel: 020 7734 3430 |
View Website
Brill/Clerkenwell Music
- 8.66 Miles
27 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QL
27 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QL
Tel: 020 7833 9757 |
View Website
Lion Coffee & Records
- 9.46 Miles
118 Lower Clapton Road , London, E5 0QR
118 Lower Clapton Road , London, E5 0QR
Tel: 020 8986 7372 |
View Website
Sister Ray Ace
- 9.69 Miles
100 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JQ
100 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JQ
Tel: 020 7729 3142 |
View Website
Flashback Records
- 9.90 Miles
131 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG
131 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG
Tel: 020 3780 1900 |
View Website
Rough Trade East
- 10.06 Miles
Draywalk, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL
Draywalk, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL
Tel: 0207 392 7788 |
View Website
Empire Records
- 10.17 Miles
21 Heritage Close, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4EB
21 Heritage Close, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4EB
Tel: 01727 860890 |
View Website
Vinyl Pimp
- 10.81 Miles
14 Felstead Street, London, E9 5LT
14 Felstead Street, London, E9 5LT
Tel: 0208 525 5644 |
View Website
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