Music / News
Record shop reopens in new home
Longwell Records is the first new record shop to open in Clifton Village in a generation.
On its first day on Saturday, there was a steady stream of customers walking into its new home in the Clifton Arcade off Boyce’s Avenue, with owner Iain Aitchison greeting many of them by name.
First opening in 2015, Longwell Records was previously in Keynsham and also had a brief foray at Wapping Wharf.
“Closing one shop and opening another has made me actually work,” Iain told Bristol24/7.
“But it’s a beautiful feeling. I came in here today and I felt totally relaxed and there was even a fake Banksy on the wall.”
Closing the shop in Keynsham was “bittersweet” but Iain said that if he wanted the business to survive, he either needed to find a location with more footfall or go online-only which he did not want to do.
“I want to try to keep the culture going,” Iain said.
Customers can expect a few different accents and dancing videos to be made by Iain, as well as him providing the friendliest of services.
The new shop is smaller with Iain going for a bit of a neater look, “a bit smarter as that will help me keep it manageable”.
Longwell Records is open in the Clifton Arcade from Wednesday to Sunday – photo: Martin Booth
“The exciting thing is that I just can’t wait to meet new people coming to the shop,” Iain added.
“All with different stories and telling me off about the music that I have got in one section that I should have put in another.
“I had a Sleaford Mods album in the jazz section and I was swiftly told off. That’s what I want.”
There are some 3,000 records in the new shop – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
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