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!
March's Record Store of the Month: Strummer Room Records, Banbury, Oxfordshire
This month's winning shop – Strummer Room Records – is Banbury's only independent record shop. The origins of Strummer Room Records began as a music-related project set up by owner Chris Oakes in 2012. The Strummer Room hosted live gigs in and around Oxford and was instrumental in running a village festival featuring 27 bands. In November 2020 Strummer Room Records moved to its current home in Cherwell Business Village. We love that they stock a diverse selection of brand new vinyl, second-hand LPs, CDs, DVDs and music-related books, and we love their active social media profile where they promote new music.
Chris, owner of the shop, says:
"Our shop is a little unusual as it is situated on the first floor of a building that was originally an Aluminium Works Laboratory, so when we are able to re-open again on 12th April, our customers will need to use the doorbell at the main entrance so that we are able to let them in. We operate an appointment system while still under Covid restrictions, so ask our customers to use our online booking system. Alternatively, they can phone or send us a message.
During the period that Strummer Room Records has been at Cherwell Business Village, I have dramatically changed the business mode and opened accounts with a selection of record labels and distributers. Strummer Room Records are now focussing on brand new vinyl records, classic re-issues, and forthcoming new releases that customers can pre-order via our website and other online platforms. We have also kept a large selection of second-hand stock to ensure that our record buying customers have a great choice.
We are incredibly pleased to have been invited to take part in Record Store Day 2021 and looking forward to this year’s Drops on 12th June and 17th July and it is also great to be selling and accepting Record Tokens."
Congratulations to the entire Strummer Room Records team. We hope you enjoy your red wine and goodies hamper – don't finish it all at once!
You can find Strummer Room Records at Unit F159 Cherwell Business Village, Southam Row, Banbury. Be sure to pop in and give them a visit once record shops are open again – and don't forget your Record Tokens! Until then, check out their website or ping them a message.
Previous Record Stores of the Month
February 2020 - Badlands Records, Cheltenham
January 2020 - Wax and Beans, Bury, Greater Manchester
December 2020 - Underground Solushn, Edinburgh
November 2020 - Sound Knowledge, Wiltshire
October 2020 - Assai Records, Dundee
September 2020 - Vinyl Exchange, Manchester
August 2020 - Slide Record Shop, Bedford
July 2020 - The Forge, Tonyrefail, Wales
June 2020 - Fish Records, Stone, Staffordshire
May 2020 - Raves from the Grave, Frome, Somserset
April 2020 - Red House Records, Swindon
March 2020 - The Rock Box Record Store, Camberley, Surrey
February 2020 - Tasty Records, Altrincham, Greater Manchester
January 2020 - The Record Café, Bradford
December 2019 - Sister Ray, London
November 2019 - Phase 1, Liverpool
October 2019 - Empire Records, St Albans
September 2019 - Record Collector, Sheffield
August 2019 - Black Circle Records, Leighton Buzzard
July 2019 - Beyond Vinyl, Newcastle
June 2019 - The Orpington, Bromley
May 2019 - Vinyl Fiction, Manchester
April 2019 - Spiller's Records, Cardiff
March 2019 - David's Music, Hertfordshire
February 2019 - Winyl, Manningtree
January 2019 - Rapture Witney, Oxfordshire
December 2018 - Crash Records, Leeds
November 2018 - Pebble Records, Eastbourne
October 2018 - Spinning Discs, Sheffield
September 2018 - Reflex Records, Newcastle
August 2018 - Banquet Records, Kingston
July 2018 - Hundred Records, Hampshire