Black Wax Coffee And Records brings together two of life’s better rituals: a properly made coffee and a slow rummage through vinyl, all from a spot right in the middle of Hythe. It’s the sort of place you can pop into for a quick takeaway and end up staying longer than planned, because the soundtrack is already playing and there’s always one more crate to check.
Background / History
Set up as an independent coffee-and-records concept in the early 2020s, the business later established its High Street base at 10 High Street, making it an easy stop whether you’re local, visiting the waterfront, or hopping over from Southampton. It’s very much built around that simple idea of pairing browsing time with a decent drink—no gimmicks, just an inviting mix of music culture and café comfort.
What You’ll Find
On the coffee side, Black Wax serves beans roasted in Winchester by The Roasting Party, with an emphasis on blends designed to work especially well with milk-based drinks—balanced, sweet-leaning and easy to drink.
Food is kept in that satisfying “pairs well with coffee” lane: toasties, shakes and the kind of treats that make a browsing session feel like a proper break in your day.
Then there’s the vinyl. Expect a mix of newer and older records, with plenty of scope for second-hand finds, and the welcome reassurance that they also buy and sell used records—handy if you’re making space at home or rehoming duplicates.
Experience / Atmosphere
The vibe leans quirky-industrial, with music visuals and band posters adding to the sense that this is as much a small cultural corner as it is a café. Browsing is unhurried: you can listen, chat, and take your time without feeling in the way. It also works brilliantly as a “bookend” stop—either before a wander along the waterfront, or as a warm, music-filled finish afterwards.
A nice extra is the option of private hire in the evenings, where you can bring your own playlists or even spin records on their deck—ideal for a small gathering that doesn’t feel like a function room.
Why Visit
A proper coffee stop that doesn’t forget the “records” part of the name.
Locally roasted beans with a flavour profile designed for milk drinks as well as espresso.
New-and-old vinyl, plus the option to buy and sell used records.
A relaxed browse-friendly space with strong music-shop character and friendly service often noted by locals.
Handy daytime opening hours (Mon–Sat 8–4, Sun 9–3).
Summary
If you like your record shopping with a cup in hand—and your coffee stops with something interesting to leaf through—Black Wax Coffee And Records is a genuinely satisfying hybrid. It’s welcoming without being precious, practical without being bland, and it gives Hythe’s High Street a place where music culture feels part of everyday life.
