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. With vinyl once again regaining a place at the cultural zeitgeist, droves of Bristol-based music fans are searching for the best spots to purchase good music. Here are our top 5 record stores in Bristol!
Prime Cuts
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 DJ Mike Savage-owned 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. There are only 60,000 records to dig through...
Where? 85 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8AS.
Wanted Records
If they’re simply looking for an amazing collection of music, record buyers should head over to Wanted Records. Encompassing everything from reggae, psych, jazz, soul and folk music - with the occasional rare item thrown in - it is a vinyl lover’s dream. Located in the buzzy 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.
Where? Unit 1, St Nicholas Market, Bristol BS1 1HQ.
Rough Trade
Sandwiched between student accommodation and a Chinese supermarket, Bristol's Rough Trade is a friendly record store, late-night venue and cafe hangout. With notably friendly staff and vast shelves of vinyl to sift through, allocate a solid chunk of time to the store that does it all!
Where? 3 New Bridewell, Nelson St, Bristol BS1 2QD.
Specialist Subject Records
For fans of indie, punk and hardcode music, Old Market's record label & shop Specialist Subject Records is something of a gem. Whilst the physical shop (that was located on the first floor of popular The Exchange) is now closed, the team are still pumping out online orders so if guitar-orientated tunes are your thing then head over to their site today.
Where? 72-73 Old Market St, Bristol BS2 0EJ.
Plastic Wax Records
Located on Cheltenham Road (just off Gloucester Road), Plastic Wax Records are Bristol's longest-established record store local specialists in secondhand vinyl (including 12-inch singles) and CDs, spanning all genres you can possibly think of from rock to hip-hop. Thanks to the keen demand, the stock is changing all of the time so regular visits reward those looking for that hard-to-find edition. Say hi to Dave!
Where? 222 Cheltenham Rd, St Andrew's, Bristol BS6 5QU.