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

Applestump Records was born out of lockdown boredom (and a mild vinyl addiction). We, Steve and Dani, are music fans first and shop owners second. When record shop trips were off the table during lockdown, we decided to try and bring the record shop to us.

We bought around 100 LPs, built a website, set up social media and started selling from home, offering free local delivery. After a few weeks running pop-ups in a local café, things snowballed and we moved into our first proper shop not long after. It all happened very quickly.

Fast forward to now and we stock a wide range of new vinyl, always aiming to have the key new releases in. We may be a small independent, but we can order in almost anything available through labels and distributors, which our customers love. Alongside new releases, we have a strong selection of second-hand records across genres and price points, so there’s always something to discover.

In September last year we took another big step and moved into a larger high street shop, giving us more room for stock and a dedicated space for events.

In recent years we’ve also become known for our events. We regularly host in-store gigs, signings and Q&As, and promote larger “outstore” shows that bring artists to town for special album launch events. It’s a huge part of what we do, connecting fans with artists and making new releases feel like an occasion.

Tell us about your store – what’s the vibe

Community is everything to us. We wanted Applestump to be more than just a shop, somewhere local music lovers can discover new artists, hear about gigs, chat records, or just pop in for a bit.

We’re based in the beautiful market town of Nantwich. Our original shop was in one of the town’s famous black-and-white Tudor buildings, complete with 17th-century carvings above the door said to ward off evil spirits. Our new high street home has its own history, it used to be a pub, so it’s still very much a place built around people coming together.

The vibe is friendly, unpretentious and music-obsessed. Whether you’re a serious collector, a casual browser or buying your very first record, you’re welcome.

Do you remember the first record shop you went to? What about the first record you bought?

Our shop name is a tribute to the first record shop we ever loved, Applestump Records in Cwmbran, South Wales. In the early 90s Steve would leave school each day and head straight there. The first record he bought was Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses.

Sadly, that original shop closed when big chains with far greater buying power moved in. It was the end of Applestump Records in Cwmbran, but the start of a lifelong music obsession so it felt only right to resurrect the name.

Whta's the best gig you've been to?

We’ve been lucky to see some amazing shows, but one that will always mean a lot to us is when Bill Ryder-Jones played an in-store at our old shop. It was our first proper “big name” event, the shop was packed, and it felt like a real turning point, one of those moments where we looked at each other and thought, this might actually work. That night will always have a special place in our story.

This year marks our fourth Record Store Day, and the first in our new home. We can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors again.

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