27 May 2021

Music and wine lovers open Next Door Records in Shepherds Bush

Meet the guys who run the quirkiest shop in Shepherds Bush.

Categories:
Business
Arts and parks

Next Door Records owners Alfie Aukett (left) and Louis Ray (right)

Meet the guys who run the quirkiest shop in Shepherds Bush. It’s a vinyl record shop, bar, café and off-licence rolled into one, and it occupies the former Bush Dining Rooms alongside Bush Hall at 304 Uxbridge Road.

“Vinyl sales overtook CD sales five years ago,” said Louis Ray, one of the trio of 23-year-olds who launched Next Door Records after the first lockdown and who loves scouring charity shops and browsing through record collections in search of old vinyl gems.

Louis grew up in Shepherds Bush, met Alfie Aukett at uni in Leeds (they share a passion for jazz) and played together in an indie band called Kitsch. With Alfie’s west London childhood pal Thom Parris, the three have established a trendy hub where music, drink and creativity mix freely.

“Our real passion and love is definitely records,” said Louis. “The original idea was a little pop-up record shop.”

Around 70 per cent of the shop's disc sales are new (everything from jazz, reggae and dub to techno, funk and hip hop)… but it’s the 30 per cent of second-hand platters that really fires them up.

“We had a limited-edition Prince record from the 70s with just three tracks which went for £220,” said Louis, who admits he’s sometimes sad to see things sell!

All three have drinks licences and have worked in hospitality, hence the blend of bottle and record shop. They know their wine and specialise in natural and organic vintages from smaller vineyards.

And all three still play, compose and record music together, and share a passion for DJing when they’re not minding the shop.

“Music is central, but we also have a pop-up artist in the shop. It’s fun discovering vinyl – and we only sell vinyl,” added Louis, who says demand for records is still rising.

“We have kids coming in who want their first record, but we also have a lot of people coming in who have big record collections from different genres. When we find good discs we’ll come running back to the shop shouting ‘Look what I’ve got!’”

Next Door Records at 304 Uxbridge Road is open: