It is a sad state of affairs that nearly all the shops selling reggae are shutting. When I started collecting there was the basement at Daddy Kools, Gladdy Waxs’ Wax Unlimited shop, Downbeat down in Waterloo and Bob Brooks’ Reggae Revive store in Kensal Rise. Whilst all of these still offer mail order/Internet selling it would seem that London’s sky high rents have shut all of the above. Whilst getting records mail order is no bad thing, the days of standing there listening to the tunes you want to buy, being recommended others and generally soaking up the atmosphere in these stores is a sadly diminishing event. Check the above shops websites for details of there selling capabilities. There are still a handful of shops out there selling reggae music. These shops need our support. There cant be a lot of money in such a ‘leftfield’ music type, so make sure you shop at these whenever possible. In the current climate, it is probably best to phone and check opening times etc etc before travelling. I would be grateful if anyone throughout the country could send in their recommendations for such stores. The shops I have listed are in London, which is where I am based, so any other shops around the country would be gratefully received and included when this site is updated.

It is with great pleasure I can let you know about a new reggae store opening. That’s right, opening not shutting! REGGAE VENDOR will be opening at 96a Albert Road, Portsmouth, PO5 2SN. Selling lps, 10’, 7’, 12’ cd, dvd. Importing from Jamaica and the US this looks like it will be a one stop shop and an online store is being worked on. Check it out. Contact them at reggaevendor@yahoo.co.uk. These stores need our support to keep running and selling the records we all love.

OUT ON THE FLOOR RECORDS, 10 INVERNESS STREET, CAMDEN, NW1. (020 7485 9958)

A little gem of a shop just outside Camden tube station and out of the way of the overcrowded market route. Lovely selection of Original and Repress long-players, but it is the boxes of first press 7’s that gets this shop top marks. Studio One and the mid 70’s rockers era are heavily represented here. Well worth checking out.

DUB VENDOR, 274 LAVENDER HILL, CLAPHAM JUNCTION, SW11 1LJ (0207 223 3757), 150 LADBROKE GROVE, LONDON, W10 5NE (0208 969 335), MAIL ORDER-17 DAVIDS ROAD, LONDON, SE23 3EF (0208 291 6253)

The Grand daddy of reggae stores. With two shops. One in Ladbroke Grove and one down in Clapham Junction as well as the best organised mail out service in reggae music, this is a bit of a one stop shop for all your reggae needs. Big selection of re press 7’s, 12’s and long-players as well as tapes, dvd’s, videos, merchandise, cases, just about everything you need.

SUPERTONE, 110 ACRE LANE, BRIXTON, SW2. (0207 737 7761)

Already included in the links page, the long time established store down in Brixton is a well stocked shop with a bit of everything. Have a look at their website and get down there for a nose through there stuff

MASSIVE INTERNATIONAL RECORD SHACK, MIDDLE YARD, CAMDEN, NW1 (0207 267 9490).

Nice little store with good quality selection of originals and re press stuff as well as merchandise, bits and bobs and a very good selection of sound tapes / cds. Just outside what used to be Dingwells at the top of Camden Market.

SOUND OF THE UNIVERSE, 7 BROADWICK STREET, SOHO, LONDON, W1F 0DA (0207 254 8880)

Very well stocked shop run by the people who own Soul Jazz records. A lot of Studio one / Treasure Isle lps as well as re-press and original 7’s. Down in the heart of Soho just off Berwick Street.