As you’ve no doubt worked out by now, we love record shops. Whether big or small, rocking a minimalist aesthetic or packing enough vinyl into their overflowing crates to wear down several lifetime’s worth of needles, we love how each and every one has something special in store for its customers. From the quirkiest locals to the big, gig-hosting powerhouses, every thirty-odd days we pick one to be our Record Store of the Month. They get a tasty gift from the Record Tokens team, and you get to discover the best independent record shops this country has to offer – it’s a win-win!
May's Record Store of the Month: Banquet Records, Kingston
Banquet Records are renowned for their abstract collection of vinyl and the cool events they run in and around Kingston.
Formed in 2004, Banquet made their way from a struggling business to a huge independent record shop, getting thousands of vinyl to music-lovers across the country.
Selling CDs, vinyl and more from a range of genres such as indie, punk-rock, and modern dance music, Banquet Records have been supporting Record Tokens from the start.
Manager Jon says "We’re a record shop in Kingston, on the edge of London. We’ve always enjoyed all parts of music and have also put on 2500 shows in our home town. So often the physical music buyer is also a gig-goer so tying this in with in-stores and release shows does well for us, and more importantly, for music fans of Kingston.
But we’ll always be a record shop and forever believe in the experience of browsing and having something real in an ever digital world. Record Tokens are a part of that, allowing people to give records without knowing which records, and the integration to the site allows people to shop with us – sometimes for the first time – from all over the country."
Congratulations to Jon and the team instore, who have amazingly chosen to donate their prize to Cambridge Road Estates Community Group, whose work includes supporting a local food bank! Great stuff guys.
You can find Banquet Records in the heart of Kingston at 52 Eden Street. If you're local, be sure to pop in and give them a visit – and don't forget your Record Tokens!
Previous Record Stores of the Month
April 2022 - Sister Ray, London
March 2022 - Reflex, Newcastle
January / February 2022 - Low Port Music, Linlithgow
December 2021 - Record Collector, Sheffield
November 2021 - Music Mania, Stoke-on-Trent
October 2021 - Lost in Vinyl, Cambridge
September 2021 - Pie and Vinyl, Southsea
August 2021 - The Turntable Coffee & Vinyl, Huddersfield
July 2021 - Elsewhere, Margate
June 2021 - Heathen Chemistry Records, Fareham
May 2021 - Roan Records, Middlesex
March 2021 - Strummer Room Records, Banbury
February 2021 - Badlands Records, Cheltenham
January 2021 - Wax and Beans, Bury, Greater Manchester