Tell us about your store – What’s the vibe?

Give us the background - When and why did you decide to open a record shop?

I’d always dreamed of creating a space that brought people together around music. Coffee shops were where I hung out, record shops were where I got inspired, and live venues were where I felt alive– so I decided to combine all three.

In 2024, after years of planning, I opened 12 Bar as a record shop, coffee bar and grassroots venue rolled into one. It came from a belief that music and community can genuinely change lives!

Tell us a bit about your shop. What’s the vibe?

It’s all about connection. We serve specialty coffee by day, spin vinyl across every genre, and host live music and DJ nights. The shop has become a cultural hub in Exeter – somewhere you can buy a Coltrane record, discover a new Bristol jazz trio, or just have a flat white and a chat. The vibe is warm, eclectic, and creative – a place where you’re just as likely to bump into a student crate-digging for Aphex Twin as you are a local artist about to play their first gig.

12 Bar is more than a shop – it’s a community. Whether you’re into jazz, ambient, punk, or just want a great cup of coffee, you’ll find a home here.

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR SHOP NAME?

“12 Bar” works on a few levels – it nods to the classic 12-bar blues structure, to the bar serving coffee, beer and natural wine, and to the idea of music and social connection under one roof. It’s simple, but it captures the fusion of music and hospitality at the heart of what we do.

CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU SOLD IN THE SHOP? AND THE LAST?

The very first record we sold was Fearless Movement by Kamasi Washington – which felt fitting, because it’s such a bold, expansive record and really set the tone for the kind of shop we wanted to be.

The most recent sale was Mogwai’s Young Team – a perfect example of how timeless post-rock still resonates with listeners today.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD SHOP YOU WENT TO? AND DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT?

The first place I remember buying music was Woolworths, and the first record I picked up was either History by Michael Jackson or What’s the Story (Morning Glory)? by Oasis. Both of those records had a huge impact and definitely set me on thepath to collecting music.

Growing up in a really rural area, I didn’t have access to many proper record shops, so Woolworths was my first real gateway into music. Later, when I moved to Exeter, every bit of spare money I had would go straight into SOLO Records. That shop was a wonderful place and played a massive role in shaping my love of records and collecting.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD SHOP (APART FROM YOUR OWN!) AND WHY?

Being based in Devon, Drift Records in Totnes has always been a go-to – they really set the standard for what an indie record shop can be! More recently, I loved my first visit to Truck in Oxford – they’ve got a killer selection and are hosting loads of brilliant gigs and events alongside the shop.

WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE RECORD STORE EXPERIENCE?

There are two that really stand out. Hosting our first Record Store Day in April 2025 was unforgettable – the shop was packed wall to wall, records flying out, live sets buzzing, people queuing for coffee, and this electric sense of “we’ve created something real here.”

And then there are the gigs. We’ve been lucky to have some incredible artists perform in-store, but Vipertime probably takes the crown. Their energy, musicianship and sheer power completely transformed the shop for a night – it felt like the walls could barely contain it!

HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS RECORD STORE DAY BEEN FOR YOUR STORE?

It’s been huge – not just in terms of sales, but in terms of energy. RSD gave us the chance to introduce ourselves to Exeter properly, and it showed how much appetite there is for vinyl and community here. For us it’s more than limited editions – it’s about getting people together around music.

WHAT'S THE BEST GIG YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO?

It’s hard to choose, but either Björk, The Stooges  or Shirley Bassey at Glastonbury 2007 – all were iconic in completely different ways. More recently, Nils Frahm was unforgettable; the way he builds sound into something almost physical is just mind-blowing.

WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM?

Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003). The music, the mood, the sense of isolation vs connection – it always resonates.

WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE BOOK?

Either Selected Short Stories of Roald Dahl – for the dark twists and razor-sharp storytelling – or Exile and the Kingdom by Albert Camus, which I love for its depth and philosophical weight.

WHAT WOULD MAKE UP YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISCS?

Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works II
David Bowie – Hunky Dory
Shuggie Otis – Inspiration Information
Radiohead – Kid A
Ólafur Arnalds – Remember

OTHER RECORD STORES