Save Our Souls Records in Leigh-on-Sea wears its heart on its sleeve – quite literally – blending a serious love of new vinyl with a tattoo-culture clothing line and a definite anti-snobbery attitude.
Background / History
The story starts in 2017, when Save Our Souls began as a clothing brand shaped by music and tattoo culture. It grew quickly from small-scale beginnings into a proper operation, building an audience around bold designs and a straight-talking sense of humour. By 2023 the team turned that long-running record habit into something more permanent: a bricks-and-mortar record shop. The first store opened in November 2023, conceived as an extension of what the brand had already become known for – music, clothing and art under one roof. In 2026, the shop entered a transition period, relocating towards a larger venue in Essex and partnering with local friends Morley’s Music on Rectory Grove to keep a selection of stock available while the move takes shape.
What You’ll Find
This is very much a new-vinyl-forward shop, with the kind of range that suits collectors who like to keep up with fresh pressings and forthcoming releases. Pre-orders are a big part of the picture, and Record Store Day is treated as a proper calendar moment rather than an afterthought. Genre coverage is intentionally broad: punk and metal sit happily alongside hip hop, pop, indie and shoegaze, with room for dance and electronic, jazz, reggae and dub, plus soul, funk and modern R&B edges. Beyond records, you’ll find the brand’s tattoo-inspired clothing and a rotating selection of related bits that fit the same world-view, as well as practical add-ons like vinyl care essentials for keeping your turntable favourites in good shape.
Experience / Atmosphere
Browsing at Save Our Souls feels less like tiptoeing into a shrine and more like walking into someone’s well-loved collection – the emphasis is on enthusiasm rather than gatekeeping. The shop’s personality is built around the idea that all genres can share the same rack without judgement, and that makes it an easy place to ask questions, take recommendations, or simply spend time comparing versions and cover art. The crossover between music and design gives the space an extra layer too: it’s not only about what’s on the shelves, but the wider culture around it – artwork, graphics, and the kind of fandom that follows bands, scenes and aesthetics as much as specific releases.
Why Visit
Strong focus on new releases and pre-orders, with plenty to discover week to week
Wide genre spread without attitude or scene-policing
Record Store Day participation for collectors chasing limited titles
Music, clothing and art sitting naturally together in one identity
Handy extras like vinyl care essentials for day-to-day collecting
Summary
If you want a Leigh-on-Sea stop that treats new vinyl as a living, current thing – not just heritage – Save Our Souls Records is a rewarding visit. It’s a shop where punk, pop, hip hop and metal can all be part of the same conversation, with the added flavour of tattoo-inspired design and a welcoming lack of pretence.
