Record Store Day in Manchester, United Kingdom
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Manchester, United Kingdom
Independent record shops open in Manchester, United Kingdom right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- All Night Flight Records
Independent shop in Stockport's historic old town launched in 2019, focused on left-field, experimental, electronic and worldwide vinyl, with regular DJ nights.
2 sources
- Beatin Rhythm Records
Prestwich soul specialist dealing in original US 7-inch 45s since 1990, a go-to for Northern Soul, modern soul, funk, Motown and rare soul collectors.
1 source
- Clampdown Records
New and second-hand record shop off Piccadilly stocking rock, punk, indie, funk, soul and jazz vinyl and CDs.
2 sources
- Dead Cloud Records
Altrincham record shop selling new and pre-loved vinyl, run as Dead Cloud Ltd since 2023 and an official Record Store Day participant.
3 sources
- Double Four Records
Stockport vinyl chamber on Lower Hillgate, trading over 30 years, specialising in soul and Motown alongside a broad general vinyl, CD and DVD stock.
3 sources
- Dub Merchant
Reggae specialist trading from the third floor of Afflecks in the Northern Quarter, selling 7", 10" and 12" vinyl across roots, rocksteady, dub, ska and dancehall.
3 sources
- Eastern Bloc
Long-running Northern Quarter dance-music specialist on Stevenson Square, a cornerstone of Manchester's house and techno vinyl scene.
2 sources
- Empire Exchange
Subterranean second-hand shop just off Piccadilly Gardens, trading for over 35 years in used vinyl, CDs, books, comics, toys and memorabilia.
2 sources
- Fopp
City-centre outpost of the Fopp chain selling low-priced new vinyl, CDs, films and books on Brown Street.
2 sources
- Haunted Dancehall
Electronic-music specialist in east Manchester selling house, techno and trance vinyl with a constantly refreshed inventory and current release info on their own site.
2 sources
- hmv
UK entertainment chain branch inside Manchester Arndale shopping centre, selling new vinyl, CDs, films and merchandise, with regular in-store performances.
3 sources
- Hyde & Seek Records
Record shop trading from a unit inside Hyde Market Hall -- vinyl, CDs and DVDs.
2 sources
- Inner Space Records
Oldham's only dedicated record shop, relocated to a new premises in Uppermill (Saddleworth) -- new and secondhand vinyl across genres.
2 sources
- Kingbee Records
Chorlton neighbourhood record shop selling new and used vinyl across genres, a local fixture for South Manchester collectors.
2 sources
- M.G Records
Vinyl stall inside Levenshulme Antiques Village on Stockport Road, with a large selection of records across every era and genre plus CDs, DVDs and record players.
2 sources
- Music for the Soul Records
Urmston record shop run by Dave, selling a broad range of vinyl and also trading online as Dave's Rare CDs for mail order.
2 sources
- Oxfam Emporium
Oxfam charity shop in the Northern Quarter with a genuine dedicated vinyl department alongside books, clothing and homeware; a well-known crate-digging stop on Oldham Street.
3 sources
- Piccadilly Records
Northern Quarter institution and one of the UK's best-known independent record shops, stocking new and used vinyl across genres with a strong reputation for staff recommendations.
2 sources
- Planet Rock Records
Community-orientated record shop inside the Wellington Mill creative studios in Ancoats/New Islington, sharing the building with other independent traders and running regular in-store events.
3 sources
- Reel Around The Fountain Records
Independent record shop on the balcony of Stretford Mall, established 2015, stocking new, sealed, preloved and rare vinyl, CDs and music memorabilia.
2 sources
- Save Records
Market stall trading inside Bury Indoor Market since 1974 (with roots to a 1968 Rochdale predecessor), selling vinyl, CDs and DVDs across rock, pop, easy listening, metal and jazz; famed for its Elvis portrait.
2 sources
- Sifters Records
Didsbury record shop run by the same family for over 30 years, famous as the shop namechecked by Noel Gallagher in Oasis's Shakermaker: Mr Sifter sold me songs when I was just 16.
2 sources
- SK1 Records
Independent record shop and cafe in Stockport's historic Underbank old town, buying, selling and trading vinyl since 2018 and hosting street-party events.
2 sources
- Tasty Records
South Manchester independent record shop near Altrincham's High Street, trading since 2013 and an official Record Store Day partner covering new releases across every genre.
2 sources
- The Record Cellar
Appointment-based vintage vinyl and memorabilia dealer trading from a cellar unit in Bank House Studios, Prestwich, in the same building as Beatin Rhythm Records.
3 sources
- Vinyl Exchange
Two-floor Northern Quarter shop established in 1988, billed as the largest buyer and seller of rare and second-hand vinyl, CDs and DVDs in North West England.
2 sources
- Vinyl Resting Place
Small vinyl and CD unit on the third floor of Afflecks, the Northern Quarter's independent shopping arcade, spanning a range of genres.
1 source
- Vinyl Revival
Northern Quarter second-hand record shop opened in 1998 by a lifelong collector with roots in his father's Oldham Market record stall; specialises in used vinyl sourced from charity shops and collections.
2 sources
- Vinylfetishes
Queer-owned shipping-container record shop in Ancoats' Pollard Yard specialising in pop, dance and R&B vinyl, styled as a friendly space for pop fans.
3 sources
- Wax and Beans
Bury's only independent record shop, spanning two floors of a Grade II-listed building on Market Street, combining new and used vinyl with a coffee shop and turntable listening bar.
3 sources
- Wilderness Record Store
Withington record shop and cafe from the team behind Crazy Pedro's and Junkyard Golf Club, opened in the old Deco Records unit, selling new and second-hand vinyl alongside coffee and toasties.
3 sources
- Withy Groove Records
Northern Quarter record shop on Thomas Street selling vinyl in the heart of Manchester's independent music retail district.
1 source
- X-Records
Bolton's only dedicated record shop, trading since 1985, with CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays upstairs and an extensive vinyl collection organised by genre and artist on the lower floor.
3 sources
See the full record store listing for Manchester, United Kingdom.