Background / History
There are record shops built around collecting, and others built around a wider cultural life; Wrecking Ball Music and Books manages to do both. The shop began at the end of September 2018 in the East Arcade of Princes Quay, founded as a joint venture between Wrecking Ball Press founder Shane Rhodes and music promoter Gary Marks. During 2020 the business began relocating to Whitefriargate, where it developed into its current city-centre base at number 15, adding more room for browsing as well as a café and an upstairs arts space. That blend of books, music and events is central to its identity rather than an added extra.
What You’ll Find
The shop deals in both new and used vinyl, alongside a substantial book range that draws heavily from independent publishers and includes the full Wrecking Ball Press catalogue. It also carries music- and book-related merchandise, gig tickets and a book selection that extends into poetry, novels, music biography and sheet music. On the record side, the emphasis is broad rather than narrow, with stock crossing genres and a clear interest in titles that are less likely to turn up in standard high-street chains. The staff are described as friendly and knowledgeable, and the shop makes a point of helping customers track down harder-to-find items when it can.
Experience / Atmosphere
What gives Wrecking Ball its particular character is the way the retail side feeds into everything around it. The ground floor includes the Wrecking Ball café, while the first-floor Wrecking Ball Arts Centre hosts live music, spoken word, poetry, theatre, film screenings, quizzes, launches and signings, with a licensed bar and capacity of 110. That means a visit can feel less like a straightforward shop stop and more like stepping into a small independent cultural hub. The Whitefriargate premises also gave the business more space than before, with room for customers to relax, listen to records and browse books at their own pace.
Why Visit
- Founded by people rooted in both independent publishing and live music promotion, giving the shop a clear personality and purpose.
- Strong range of new and used vinyl alongside books from independent publishers and the full Wrecking Ball Press catalogue.
- More than a record shop, with a café downstairs and a first-floor arts venue hosting gigs, readings, screenings and signings.
- Central Whitefriargate location, a short walk from Hull Paragon Interchange, making it an easy stop on a city-centre wander.
Summary
Wrecking Ball Music and Books is worth seeking out because it brings several independent traditions together under one roof: record dealing, bookselling, publishing, live events and everyday browsing. For visitors who like shops with a strong sense of local character, changing stock and reasons to linger beyond a quick purchase, it offers a thoughtful and distinctly Hull take on the modern record shop.
