Calling all music-lovers! As we know, the quality of the local record store can make or break a neighbourhood. What if you're hit by a sudden urge to find that obscure MF Doom LP from the early 2000s? Luckily, Bristol is a city well known for its music scene – shout out to all the Massive Attack lovers and Julio Bashmore fans – so it follows that, when it comes to great record stores, Bristolians are spoilt for choice. We’ve tracked down the greatest vinyl havens the city has to offer.
PK Music Exchange
Image Credit: [url=http://www.pk-music.co.uk]http://www.pk-music.co.uk[/url]
Ideal Customer: The Up-And-Coming Brizzle DJ
This record store has so much more than just vinyl. Stocking band gear and DJ equipment, the PK Music Exchange is known for catering to those keen to get into playing the decks themselves, and with a massive variety of hip hop and techno beats it is well worth the trip. Located in Gloucester Road, it's the perfect store for anyone who lives around Stokes to go and explore.
PK Music Exchange is located at 51 Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 8AD.
Rise Records
Image Credit: Rise Bristol via Facebook
Ideal Customer: General Music Lover
This shop is a personal favourite, standing out from the other record stores in Bristol with its live gigs, clothing, a selection of miscellaneous items upstairs and a café that serves a selection of amazing dishes. It succeeds in not only being a record store but also just a cool place to hang out. Located near the Triangle in Clifton, this is one store you definitely don’t want to miss.
Rise Records is located at 70 Queens Rd, Bristol BS8 1QU.
Idle Hands Records
Ideal Customer: Dance Music Enthusiast
They say the devil makes work for idle hands - and that obviously means you should take to the decks. If you’re angling for the best new dance records, without further ado make your way to this record store, which boasts an amazing 12-inch selection that reminds the customer of how much good music is still being released. The store recently moved premises from Stokes Croft and is now located in a bigger and better space in St Pauls.
Idle Hands Records is located at 32a City Road, St Pauls, Bristol BS2 8TP.
Wanted Records
Image Credit: wantedrecords.co.uk
Ideal Customer: Collector / Proper Vinyl Enthusiast
Record buyers and traders should head over to Wanted Records if they’re simply looking for an amazing collection of music. Encompassing reggae, psych, jazz, soul and folk music - with the occasional rare item thrown in - it is a vinyl lover’s dream. Located in the St Nicholas Market, this store is a favourite with locals as well as with the tourists who inevitably pop in to look around the beautiful markets.
Wanted Records is located at Unit 1, St Nicholas Market, Bristol BS1 1HQ.
Prime Cuts
Ideal Customer: Vinyl Archaeologist
If you know how to dig out a good vinyl - in the same way seasoned charity shoppers can sense a rare ’90s Adidas jacket - then Prime Cuts is the perfect archaeological site for you. Currently selling thousands of second-hand records spanning a variety of genres, this place is located in the basement of a shop called Repsycho Clothing in Gloucester Road. The store is quite literally an underground cave waiting for music-lovers to unearth those hidden vinyl gems.
Prime Cuts is located at 85 Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 8AS.