Record Shops in East Sussex

East Sussex makes for an easy, scenic record-hunting run, with shops dotted along the coast and in characterful market towns. In Hastings and neighbouring St Leonards-on-Sea you can pair crate-digging with sea air: Dark Circles sits right by the beach with new and used vinyl plus a proper coffee stop, while Tough Love St Leonards leans into heavier sounds, mixing fresh releases with pre-loved finds, cassettes and plenty of extras. Eastbourne adds another reliable leg of the trail, with The Vinyl Frontier in Little Chelsea for a focused vinyl browse before you head inland to Lewes and Union, known for an eclectic spread across new and pre-loved vinyl alongside CDs and music books. Down the line towards Rye you’ll find more small-town digging to slot into a walk around the old streets, and if you’re extending the day just over the boundary, Brighton’s nearby staples like Resident Music and Rarekind Records open up deeper genre corners, from jazz and funk to reggae, hip hop and dance. Use the listings to map a route, pick a few stops, and turn your next East Sussex wander into a properly satisfying day of records.

Our directory currently lists 18 record shops across East Sussex, ranging across town-centre shops and tucked-away local gems, with shops in Eastbourne, Bexhill-on-Sea, Hastings, St Leonards-on-Sea, Rye, Heathfield and Lewes. Between them you will find new and second-hand vinyl across every genre, from rare original pressings and audiophile reissues to the latest releases, plus turntables, accessories and knowledgeable staff happy to point you towards your next find.

Several of these shops take part in Record Store Day and host their own gigs, signings and listening nights, so there is usually something happening for vinyl fans. As hours and stock change from one shop to the next, it pays to check each listing first and build a route that takes in two or three stores while you are in the area.