Middle Floor Records is the upstairs treasure room for anyone chasing forward-leaning dance music in Brighton, tucked within the three-level record-shop hub at 104 Trafalgar Street.
Background / History
Set above Rarekind Records (with RK Bass Records on the floor above that), Middle Floor Records forms part of a building that’s become a familiar waypoint for local DJs and curious listeners alike. Over the years the space has been closely associated with underground club culture and specialist vinyl digging, and it’s also known for having hosted Well Rounded Vinyl Vendors on this floor during the 2010s – a chapter that helped cement Trafalgar Street’s reputation as a serious destination for dance music on wax. Today, the “middle floor” identity continues in the same spirit: a focused, scene-minded selection rather than a catch-all catalogue.
What You’ll Find
The stock leans heavily into electronic sounds, with a clear affection for UK dance music in particular. Expect crates and wall picks spanning UK bass, dubstep and grime, alongside garage, house, techno, disco and broader electronica. There’s a mix of new and second-hand vinyl, with plenty aimed at DJs: 12″s you can actually play out, plus albums that sit just outside the club frame. You’ll often find releases championing UK labels and artists, balanced with a sensible spread of imports and more experimental left-field options. The second-hand section is a key part of the appeal, with rotating finds that reward repeat visits.
Experience / Atmosphere
Browsing here feels like stepping into a listening-led clubhouse: a compact room where conversations about tempos, labels and mixes are as common as quiet concentration over the racks. Because it sits within a multi-floor setup, you can move naturally between downstairs discoveries (hip hop, funk, soul and more at Rarekind) and upstairs deep-dives (jungle and drum & bass at RK Bass), with the Middle Floor acting as the dance-music bridge between the two. Staff knowledge tends to be practical and genre-fluent – the sort of guidance that helps you leave with something you’ll play, not just admire on the shelf.
Why Visit
A dedicated electronic and dance-music floor within Brighton’s best-known multi-storey record spot
Strong coverage of UK styles: bass, grime, garage, dubstep, house and techno
A blend of new releases and well-chosen second-hand records for DJs and collectors
Easy to pair with a full building dig across Rarekind downstairs and RK Bass upstairs
A genuine local meeting point for underground music heads, not just casual browsing
Summary
If your ideal record shop visit involves proper crate-digging, informed chat and the chance of finding a record that becomes part of your regular rotation, Middle Floor Records is a must-stop in Brighton. It’s specialist without being intimidating, rooted in the city’s dance-music culture, and best enjoyed as part of a slow wander through all three floors of Trafalgar Street vinyl.
