Gatefield Sounds

My uncle Mick Winch opened Gatefield Sounds in Faversham on Gatefield Lane (hence the name) on November 25th 1972, so we are fast approaching our 50th Anniversary. The Whitstable store where I am now opened in 1979, and Uncle Mick then went on to open a further four shops in Herne Bay, Sheerness and the sister shops the Sound House that opened in Deal and Broadstairs in the 90s with his partner Paul Savage.I grew up in record shops, I don’t think I really realised how fortunate I was at the time, and some of the opportunities I didn’t take. I started as a Saturday boy in Whitstable in 1990 and generally would hang out in the shop whenever I wasn’t in school. I eventually managed to convince my Uncle to give me a full-time job, and I went to the Sound House in Deal in the 90s and early 2000s, which I feel was the best time in this industry and a lot of fun, well what I can remember.When Mick had mentioned retirement to me back in 2015, I said I’d take over the family business and in March 2016, I took charge with my wife Errin. With that, we felt a great responsibility, and the 50th anniversary which is approaching fills us with much pride.