Spinning Around Records puts Wellington on the map for vinyl lovers

When Emma Perks opened Spinning Around Records on New Street in Wellington, she could not have guessed how quickly it would be noticed. Within two years the shop had been named one of the top five independent record shops in the UK by the Independent Music Awards.

The nomination came from the people who know the shop best: its customers. "The Independent Music Awards have named us as one of the top five independent record shops, am so proud of this achievement," Emma said at the time. "I only opened two years ago so Spinning Around is a 'new kid on the block' and yet we are in the top five with some really well-established shops from throughout the country. It is quite humbling."

The shop describes itself as an indie record shop that specialises in pop but stocks a wide range of genres. Customers can browse new and preloved vinyl, CDs and cassettes, along with vinyl accessories, and the shop also sells online with UK shipping. Its shelves in autumn 2026 include Record Store Day Black Friday releases alongside new pre-orders.

Emma has thanked customers who travel to Wellington from all over the UK as well as those on her doorstep. "Wellington is a fantastic town to be based in," she said. "I love the way it has transformed itself since Covid, with so many great new shops and businesses opening. Visitors who come here are really surprised at what it now has to offer."

That transformation was in the spotlight again in September 2026, when Ian Harvey, head of the Institute of Place Management, spent a day in the town. His tour of growing local businesses included Spinning Around Records, and he left saying he would be telling people that Wellington is "a place that is doing things right".

Sally Themans of Love Wellington has described the town as being "on the up", with award-winning independent retailers and regeneration projects under way, and the record shop has become one of the independent names drawing people into the town centre.

For Emma, the hope has always been that recognition for the shop will help raise the profile of Wellington as a whole and bring more visitors into its independent streets.

Spinning Around Records is at 31 New Street, Wellington, and is open Tuesday to Saturday. Opening hours, new releases and online ordering are on the Spinning Around Records website.