Record Store Day 2021 is fast approaching - "Drop 2" is Saturday 17th July! The article below should answer almost any question you could have regarding this year’s celebrations – please read and understand this in full before calling the shop to ask us questions, as we’re extremely busy, and your queries will almost definitely be answered below.
Record Store Day is now split across two dates in summer 2021, the second being on Saturday 17th July. This year marks our seventh RSD, and after the success of all the previous ones, we intend to run things the same way we have done the past few years, whilst ensuring everyone’s safety as we emerge from the global pandemic.
We’ll publish a complete stock list of what titles we have in the shop with prices, quantities, etc the day before (mid-afternoon / early evening on Friday 16th July). This way you can make an informed decision regarding when to start queuing based on what we have available.
For now, you can browse all the RSD titles we expect to stock in our online shop.
Standard RSD rules apply – no pre-orders, reservations, or phone sales on any limited edition RSD stock are permitted. Physical, in-person, over-the-counter sales only (until 6pm). You can only buy 1 of any given title (but buy as many different titles as you want).
The cafe will open at 6am, by which time we anticipate a fairly large queue will have formed. We won’t be able to fit everyone inside the cafe, but there’ll be plenty of outdoor seating available (weather permitting).
In previous years the queue has started at 11:30pm the night before, gotten to double digits by 3am, reached about 50 by 6am, and hit triple figures by 8am. Last month, the queue started as we closed up the shop the night before! We have no idea what to expect this year in terms of queue size.
Everyone in the queue will be assigned a number based on the order in which they arrived – you’ll get this number as you enter the cafe, or pass by the front door (from 6am, until the queue ends). Once you’ve received your numbered ticket, you can chill-out in the cafe with some coffee and breakfast, sit outside and watch the world go by, or just leave altogether and come back when we open the record shop at 8am. Don’t lose your numbered ticket, as that’s proof of your place in the queue, and we’ll need to see it before we can serve you.
The record shop will open at 8am, but we’ll only be allowing customers downstairs in small groups. We’ll serve customers in the order they initially arrived (Deli-counter style), and your number will be called at the top of the stairs / at the front door of the cafe, so listen out and don’t miss your turn!
You will be required to use hand sanitiser (provided) and wear a face covering (not provided) before entering the record shop. If you aren’t prepared to do both of these things, you’ll have to stay upstairs / send someone downstairs on your behalf. We have absolutely no fresh air-flow / ventilation in the basement (“the air is as old as the wallpaper looks!”), so please have your mask on before you begin your decent down the staircase.
All of our previously published Covid-19 reopening rules MUST be adhered to throughout your visit.
Please be aware that RSD products won’t be physically browse-able in the racks, so you’ll need to know what you intend to buy before coming downstairs. We’ll have lists available on the day, but would encourage you to browse our website and the official RSD website for product information in advance of this.
Don’t be the fool who accidentally looks at the American RSD website! Different products are only available in different territories: “.co.uk” (NOT “.com”) is correct for this region.
We have limited space in the cafe, and no-one wants to contract an easily-preventable deadly disease, so please respect other peoples’ space, don’t block access to the basement, and (if you don’t have a table to sit on), don’t loiter unnecessarily waiting to go downstairs to the basement.
There’ll be plenty of space outside the cafe, and we’ll be calling out numbers at the front door. Observe social distancing and don’t get in the way.
Once the queue system has ended, we’ll still only be allowing a limited amount of customers in the basement at once. Please be patient and prepared to wait your turn.
As with last year's RSD drops, once the day ends all remaining stock will go up for sale on our website at 6pm. We can’t guarantee we won’t have sold out of lots of stuff, but if you’d prefer to stay at home this year, get online to snap up what’s left!
All updates (including the full stock list) will be posted on the dedicated Record Store Day 2021 page of our website. Bookmark it now for easy reference later!