Felixstowe on the Suffolk coast, is a charming seaside town ‘on the up’. Whilst it is not currently as famous, or as ‘chic’ as other Suffolk coastal towns of Aldeburgh and Felixstowe, it has a lot to offer, and one of my favourite places to visit for the seaside, great dinners and record shopping.
Unlike many British towns, Felixstowe still has dedicated record shops, plus a number of other options for a spot of crate digging. As a regular visitor, and record shopper in the town, I am pleased to share my list of the best record shops in Felixstowe.
Independent Record Shops
Felixstowe has two independent record shops next door to each other. Located on the Orwell road, not far from the main high street, these two shops cater for different audiences and types of music.
Grooveyard Records
Grooveyard is my favourite and, in my opinion the best record shop in Felixstowe. Run by Garry O Malley the record shop grew quickly from a small space at the back of a bookshop to taking over the entire space. Focusing purely on used vinyl, Grooveyard have a wide selection of genres and record quality. There are dedicated sections for folk, rock and electronic with a wide selection of miscellaneous records that will keep you crate digging for hours.
All of the vinyl pricing is fair and the quality is great. There are usually a few ‘bargain’ crates if you are looking for cheap deals but equally Garry will usually have a number of high end/rare pressings on offer. He’s also great at sourcing hard to find records if you ask him.
With new collections coming in frequently, you can really spend a few hours in here looking through the vinyl bins. Most of my most recent purchases including One of these Nights, Desperado and a first pressing of Abbey Road have come from Garry.
Onion Vinyl
Next door is Onion Vinyl which, in my opinion, serves a younger crowd. Offering mostly new and resissued pressings both on vinyl and CD. The large shop has a wide selection of music ranging from Elton John to Taylor Swift. This is a great place to shop newer items like David Gilmour’s Luck and Strange and other ‘music’ bits like Rocksaw jigsaw puzzles.I think they may also have some posters if you want to be old school!
Record Auctions
If you are in town it may be worth checking into Nick Barber auctions on Hamilton Road. The auctioneer of memorabilia and collectibles will often have some rare vinyl for sale. Depending on the auction calendar you could spot some vintage Pink Floyd concert or more.
Charity Shops
Like any UK high street, Felixstowe has it’s share of charity shops that can often be a good source of crate digging. Whilst most charity collections consist of Mantovani, Griegg and those terrible sixties compilations, you can sometimes spot a winner. I picked up a copy of Al Stewart’s Year of the Cat which was almost mint, so you never know.
A wander up Hamilton Road (the main high street) will present you with no shortage of charity shops including EACH (East Anglian Children’s Hospice), Red Cross, RSCPA and Cancer Research.
However, for the best charity shop vinyl selection, I suggest you head to Emmaus, next to the coop (and a large car park.) They often have a good selection of more contemporary vinyl that is well catalogued and fairly priced. Last time I was in they had a copy of the Reader’s Digest Sensational Seventies boxset which is getting harder to find.
Felixstowe Record Fairs
There is a decent record fair held about every two months, located in the Trinity Hall, opposite Onion and Grooveyard. There is usually a 50p entry to raise some money for charity and you can expect a lot of mostly new vinyl and cds. I have personally never found it to be rich pickings for the stuff I want, but it makes a useful ‘trinity’ of record shops if you are in Felixstowe that day.
Recap – the best record shops in Felixstowe
- Grooveyard Records 19 Orwell Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7EP
- Onion Vinyl 19 Orwell Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7EP
- Nick Barber Auctions 154 Hamilton Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7DS
- Emmaus 10-12 Great Eastern Square, Felixstowe IP11 7DY
- Felixstowe Record Fairs Trinity Methodist Church26 Hamilton Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7AN
Felixstowe for Music Lovers
In addition to the great record shops, Felixstowe has a lot to offer the music lover. You can dig around for music books and biographies at Treasurechest Books (61 Cobbold Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7BH) or pick up some CD bargains at the local CEX (67 Hamilton Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7BE).
For live music lovers the Felixstowe Spa Pavillion is the place to go for cover bands and the odd ‘oldie’. I was the youngest audience member (by some margin) to see the Manfredds a few years back. Acts like the Illegal Eagles and George Michael tributes are always good fun, and cheaper than seeing the originals if they are still with us!
There’s a whole programme of wider ‘music in Felixstowe‘ which may tickle your ear drums, just give the website a moment to load!
Felixstowe – on the way up
Once a fashionable Edwardian resort, renowned for its elegant promenades, grand hotels, and bracing sea air, Felixstowe was often dubbed the “Nice of the UK” due to its similar climate and atmosphere to the French city. This comparison solidified its reputation as a sought-after destination for the wealthy and socially elite. With the decline of the railways the town succumbed to the usual problems of under investment, but it is bouncing back.
There are new restaurants opening and the independent shops are creeping back. The seaside remains a great place to walk and all within easy access of London. Do consider it for a day trip or fit it into your long weekend on the Suffolk Coast, you won’t be disappointed!