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With vinyl now officially outselling CDs for the first time since 1986, those glossy black discs, once on the brink of obsolescence, are enjoying an unprecedented second life. So are independent record stores. A whole new wave of music fans now look forward to weekends spent thumbing through records, eyeing cover art in its full glory, and potentially stumbling across rare treasures.
Manchester, it just so happens, has some of the best record stores in the country. From electronic haven Eastern Bloc to eclectic treasure trove Vinyl Exchange to bastion of alternative music, Piccadilly Records, the city is home to some truly special independent retailers. Here are some of our favourites.
Here are our picks
Eastern Bloc Records, 5A Stevenson Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1DN - Visit now
Eastern Bloc Records is one for ‘the true vinyl purist’. A regular haunt for the city’s DJs, they specialise in electronic music, host in-store events, and serve up food and drinks throughout the day and night.
Piccadilly Records, 53 Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1JR - Visit now
Piccadilly Records, the jewel in the crown of Oldham Street, prides itself on friendly, helpful service and stocking an across-the-board variety of genres from indie, disco, funk, jazz, house, Balearic, psych and everything in-between on both vinyl and CD.
Vinyl Resting Place, 3rd Floor Afflecks Palace, 52 Church Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1PW
A dream for crate-diggers with an eclectic taste, Vinyl Resting Place is home to cherry-picked treasures from across the genre spectrum.