Shop Of The Month: Gatefield Sounds – Whitstable

One of the fascinating features about the UK music industry is how many excellent record shops can be found in the coastal towns and cities. Gatefield Sounds is one such place – a multi-genre gem with a loyal customer base, it’s a great example of how to run a friendly, knowledgeable and well-stocked record shop. Jon Ashby tells Steve Burniston the story behind this successful and much-admired shop.

Tell us about the shop’s history.

Gatefield Sounds was founded by Mick Winch in 1972. We opened in Gatefield Lane in Faversham, hence the name. We opened here in Whitstable in 1979. Later we had shops in Herne Bay, Sheerness, and our sister shops the Soundhouse in Deal and Broadstairs. Now there is just one – the vinyl revival came too late for the other branches.

I took over the business from my uncle in 2016; I was back where I started in my hometown and where I started as a Saturday boy in 1989.

And what range of music do you sell?

We sell everything on CD and vinyl, all new, from Abba to Zappa, André Rieu to Aphex Twin. Although we do love jazz, electronica, hip-hop, indie alternative and classic rock.

You sell CDS and vinyl. What do you think the future of the CD will be?

Over the last four years our CD sales have increased year on year, though not to the levels of vinyl. More young people are now buying CDS and their first cars can still have CD players. And they are so much cheaper than vinyl.

The shop looks great. How often do you change the layout?

The layout hasn’t really changed too much over the years. The shop was fitted out by my grandad Bert and my dad, both carpenters; they fitted all the shops over the years. The original vinyl racks were covered with CD racking, and gradually my dad would come in and lift out those with the original vinyl racks underneath. My grandfather is no longer with us, but I always feel close to him in here.

How has record retailing changed in the last few years?

The big one, and what fills me with confidence for the years ahead, is how many more girls and women are coming in and buying music.

Name one album that you would love to see reissued.

I’ve narrowed that down to two:

Dick Morrissey – Storm Warning and U.N.K.L.E. – Never Never Land.

Gatefield Sounds, 70 High Street, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1BB / 01227 263337.