Rough Trade is set to open its first store on London’s Denmark Street – once known as ‘Tin Pan Alley’.
Often described as the birthplace of the British Music Industry, Denmark Street has seen some of the biggest names in the industry hang out there, live there and make music there, including Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols and David Bowie.
Now, launching in mid-October, the new site will mark the first time that the iconic street has had a record shop. It will be spread over two floors and carry a huge selection of curated vinyl across all genres, as well as books, clothing, merchandise and limited edition one-offs.
It’ll join the three other Rough Trade stores in the UK capital – Rough Trade East, Rough Trade West and Soho. The latter, located on Beak Street, will be rebranded to Rough Trade Vintage and stock predominantly used vinyl. Other stores across the UK are located in Nottingham, Bristol and Liverpool.
While it does not offer a live performance space, various album signings will be held at the new branch, and the brand will also work in partnership with venues across the neighbouring area. These include the 2,000-capacity live venue at Outernet, as well as smaller venues aimed at emerging artists including The Lower Third.
“We are thrilled to bring Rough Trade to London’s iconic Denmark Street, a location that holds such a profound place in the city’s music history,” Lawrence Montgomery, Managing Director, Rough Trade UK said.
“With its rich heritage and ongoing legacy, Denmark Street is the perfect setting for our next chapter, fostering its own unique community, while also offering all the vibrancy and expertise customers have come to expect when visiting Rough Trade. We look forward to welcoming music fans to explore, discover and celebrate music and culture, continuing our tradition of being more than just a record store.”
Since opening its first branch in Notting Hill in 1976, Rough Trade has become a huge name when it comes to buying records in the UK. Between 1988 and 2007 Rough Trade Neal’s Yard hosted a number of legendary in-store gigs from the likes of Beastie Boys, PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley and more.
“I am very proud to have such a famous and well-respected name come to Denmark Street. It is so fitting and continues our mission to honour and enhance the musical legacy of this area,” said Philip O’Ferrall, CEO Outernet Global. “Denmark Street has benefitted from the increased footfall the Outernet District has created and Rough Trade’s arrival will see fans coming to buy music of all genres in a welcoming and inclusive environment.”
News of the new Denmark Street branch arrives after it was reported last month that Rough Trade was “assessing opportunities” to build more stores following a huge rise in vinyl and CD sales.
It follows a huge resurgence in the vinyl industry, in which the number of independent vinyl stores hit a 10-year high in March this year and vinyl outsold CD for the first time in 35 years in 2023.