Some things just go together. Fish and chips. Ant and Dec. Batman and Robin. Manchester and record shops seem to be one of those things that just make sense.
And for vinyl enthusiasts - whether collectors or hobbyists - the city’s vibrant Northern Quarter is a treasure trove of shiny plastic discs with a record store on nearly every corner. Sometimes there’s two.
While events like Record Store Day and Vinyl Record Day offer a much-appreciated cash injection for retailers when it comes to record sales, vinyl is a year-round operation for these buzzing businesses, with shoppers flocking from near and far to see what the city has to offer.
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Vinyl records are still seeing a huge resurgence, outselling CDs for the first time in 35 years last year - but Manchester has always had love for the humble medium. If you’re wondering where the best place to head to stock up on your LPs and singles are, you won’t have to look too far.
Here are some of our favourite record stores in Manchester city centre, all of which are just a short walk from one another, making for the ultimate musical trail with plenty of coffee shops nearby for a pitstop.
Empire Exchange
Empire Exchange is one of the first record shops that people will encounter when they make it to Manchester, invited in by the sound of music blaring into the street during opening hours.
It’s undeniably an Aladdin’s cave of a Mancunian institution, and is packed full of weird and wonderful stock from rare books to war medals, having once accidentally sold the owner’s ashes.
In the centre of all that are racks of second hand vinyl ranging from 1930s big bands to 1980s pop stars.
The shop began life in the Corn Exchange in 1992, where it was originally known as Just For Today. Over the next few years it moved several times, including to old bookies at Shudehill and to a shop near the former BBC on Oxford Road, before settling in its basement home on Newton Street in 1998.
The eccentric emporium is best known for its chaotic window displays and understated slogan: 'Decidedly different'.
Crowne Plaza Building, 1 Newton Street / empireexchange.com / 0161 236 4445
Vinyl Exchange
Since opening its doors in 1988 on Oldham Street, Vinyl Exchange has been integral to the successful redevelopment of Manchester's Northern Quarter.
Included in the staff have been several of the city's finest DJs, including Kath McDermott (Flesh), Rob Bright (Bugged Out!), James Holroyd (Chemical Brothers Tour DJ), Russ Marland (Hacienda), while customers over the years have ranged from John Peel, Robbie Williams, Thurston Moore and Rio Ferdinand through to Danny Krivit, Sasha and Afrika Bambaataa.
The retailer offers two levels of stock, but keeps its impressive second hand vinyl in the basement.
The best thing about Vinyl Exchange is its quality control: all records are priced with their state in mind (from mint to poor) and then marked down the longer they’re in stock.
It’s a policy that means they end up with an excellent set of crates under the racks where great records no one else has spotted/wanted can be picked up for pennies.
18 Oldham Street / vinylexchange.co.uk / 0161 228 1122
Eastern Bloc Records
Eastern Bloc was established in 1985 by John Berry and Martin Price, originally located in Afflecks Palace, before relocating to Stevenson Square in 2011.
When the Madchester scene kicked off in the late-1980s, Eastern Bloc became a cultural icon and integral part of the music scene, and is said to have helped launch bands like Inspiral Carpets, and hosted in store signings with The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.
It specialises in house, techno, dub, ‘the funk’ and reggae world music genres, and has a lovely little tea and coffee counter where you can grab a cuppa, too.
Many famous faces have worked behind the counter or been regular customers in the shop over the years, E Bloc said some of their customers have included the likes of Laurent Garnier, Jon Da Silva, Mike Pickering, Graeme Park, Sasha and The Chemical Brothers to name but a few.
5A Stephenson Square / easternblocrecords.com / 0161 228 6555
Clampdown Records
Clampdown started life in the Corn Exchange back in 1991 before it moved to its current site in Piccadilly in 1996.
The retailer has been the site of famous film sets like Morbius, It’s A Sin, and Peaky Blinders, so its owner, Neil Clarke, has rubbed shoulders with some A-listers since he took it on 16 years ago.
A second hand specialist for singles, 12-inches, albums and rarities, Clampdown may be a small shop but it has access to a mighty amount of stock. If you can’t find it, they’ll have it - somewhere.
9-11 Patton Street / clampdownrecords.com / 0161 237 5932
Piccadilly Records
Piccadilly Records is one of Manchester’s largest and longest-running independent record shops, specialising in new and niche release records. The store opened in 1978 before being taken over by the current management in the 90s, relocating to the Northern Quarter in 1997.
With all the latest releases and a back catalogue of classic records, the shop is a music-lover's paradise. With a friendly and helpful service, the indie shop stocks an across-the-board variety of genres including indie, disco, funk, house, Balearic, psychedelic and everything in between.
53 Oldham Street / piccadillyrecords.com / 0161 839 8008
Vinyl Resting Place
Up at the very top of Afflecks, Vinyl Resting Place is the record shop equivalent of a pub snug - tucked away in a corner near the cafe but brimming with great second hand vinyl. And if you’re particularly lucky, you can drop on some serious bargains in the £1 singles box.
Owner Alistair’s got hits and hidden gems galore with tonnes of vinyls for every music taste and genre. From AC/DC to ZZ Top, there is something for the keen beginner to the seasoned connoisseur, and his stock range continues to grows.
Third Floor, Afflecks, Oldham Street / facebook.com/VinylRestingPlaceManchester
Vinyl Revival
Established in 1997, Vinyl Revival stocks a mix of old, new and back catalogue, as well as a fair number of seriously sought after collectables. The Hilton Street venue boasts a large selection of Manchester based music from the 60s through to present day.
The store doesn’t just sell vinyl, either, boasting a range of CDs, shirts and posters that nod to Manchester’s rich musical history throughout the decades.
Vinyl Revival is also home to a selection of punk, reggae, soul, rock and even hip hop and electro records, too, if that’s more your bag.
5 Hilton Street / vinylrevivalmcr.com / 0161 661 6393
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