Bath has two main independent record shops worth knowing about: Chapter 22 Roots & Records on Broad Street, which pairs vinyl with houseplants and listening booths, and Resolution Records at Green Park Station, a long-running vintage specialist with new and pre-owned stock. It's a small city for vinyl compared with Bristol, so this isn't a long list, but both are genuinely worth a browse if you're passing through.
Bath's independent record shops at a glance
| Shop | Location | What they're known for |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 22 Roots & Records | 8 Broad Street, BA1 5LJ | Vinyl focused on 1980s post-punk and alternative, listening booths, houseplants |
| Resolution Records | Green Park Station | New and pre-owned vinyl across a wide range of genres |
Chapter 22 Roots & Records, Broad Street
Chapter 22 opened on Broad Street during the pandemic, when owners Dean and Nicola combined two of their interests, records and houseplants, into one shop. Dean has run the record label Chapter 22 Records since the 1980s, and the shop's own stock leans heavily towards that era, particularly post-punk and alternative vinyl, though it's not limited to it. The houseplant display at the front is as much a draw as the records for a lot of visitors, and there are listening booths inside where you can play a record before you commit to buying it. By the owner's own account, the shop gets busy with people stopping for a drink and a listen in the evenings at weekends, so it doubles as a bit of a hangout rather than a strictly in-and-out record shop.
Resolution Records, Green Park Station
Resolution Records is based inside Green Park Station, the old railway station building that's now home to a mix of independent food, drink and retail traders, with Bath's farmers' market held in the same space at weekends. It's described as Bath's vintage record specialist, with a large selection of both new and pre-owned vinyl that reportedly turns over often, so it's worth more than one visit if you're after something specific. Being inside Green Park Station means you can easily combine a browse with a stop at the farmers' market or one of the other traders in the building.
If you want a wider selection
If two shops isn't enough choice, Frome is the nearest town with a proper dedicated record shop, Raves From The Grave, which has run for years from King Street. It's a touch further out than a quick stop, so it only really makes sense if record shopping is the point of the trip rather than an add-on to a day in Bath.
Making a day of it
If you're combining a record shop visit with the rest of Green Park Station, our guide to day trips from Bath covers options further afield including Frome, and our vintage and charity shops in Bath guide is a good match if browsing independent shops is your thing generally. For food nearby, our best cafes guide rounds up places to stop for a coffee afterwards.
FAQ
Where is Chapter 22 Roots & Records in Bath? At 8 Broad Street, BA1 5LJ, identifiable from outside by its houseplant display at the front of the shop.
What kind of records does Chapter 22 sell? Its stock leans towards 1980s post-punk and alternative vinyl, reflecting owner Dean's own record label, Chapter 22 Records, though it's not limited to that era or genre.
Where is Resolution Records in Bath? Inside Green Park Station, the former railway station building that now houses independent food, drink and retail traders, alongside Bath's farmers' market at weekends.
Does Resolution Records sell new or second-hand vinyl? Both. It's known as a vintage specialist with a mix of new and pre-owned records that turns over regularly.
Can you listen to records before buying at a Bath record shop? Yes, at Chapter 22, which has listening booths where customers can play a record before deciding to buy.
Is there a bigger record shop near Bath if these two aren't enough? Frome, a short drive away, has a long-running dedicated record shop, Raves From The Grave, if you want a wider selection than Bath's two shops offer.