The pink corner frontage where Portland Road opens into Portland Square is one of the easiest shops to spot in Worthing town centre, and the lettering across it says plainly what goes on inside: vinyl records, clothing, refreshments. Spun works as all three at once, a shop that sells records through the day and then rearranges itself into a small music venue by evening.
Background / History
Spun opened in November 2023, set up by Rob Watson and Danny Giles. Watson had already founded Poetic Bisons, a sustainable clothing label he started in Worthing in early 2020, and Spun brought that brand together with a record shop under a single roof. The pair were clear from the outset about the kind of place they wanted: a record shop that welcomed everyone, with no music snobbery attached to it. What began as a retail space has since grown into one of the town’s more active small music rooms, with a regular programme of free events running alongside the counter trade.
What You’ll Find
The racks hold new pressings and preloved stock together rather than in separate worlds. Soul, funk, reggae, jazz, disco, indie and electronic music are all well represented, which reflects what gets played in the room itself. Sleeves are displayed along the wall above the crates, and there are decks beside the counter. Alongside the records you will find Poetic Bisons clothing and a small run of eco-minded homeware and gifts. Coffee comes from Roasted, the South Downs blend, and there is a licensed bar with bottled beers and soft drinks.
Experience / Atmosphere
Inside, dusty pink walls meet slatted timber panelling, with plants, a tiled floor and seating that encourages people to stay rather than browse and go. The clever part is structural: the record and clothing stands sit on castors, so the whole shop floor can be spun aside into the back room and the space opened up for musicians and DJs. That happens often. Thursdays bring board games and snacks through the late afternoon and evening, alternate Fridays host Spuntaneous with Afro, Latin and funk grooves coordinated by percussionist Sean Quinn, and a monthly Sunday vinyl social is led by Glenn Fallows. Friday and Saturday run through to half ten, and in fine weather the tables spill out onto the square.
Why Visit
- New and secondhand vinyl shelved side by side, with soul, funk, reggae, jazz and electronic music particularly well served
- A licensed bar and proper coffee, so a visit can be a sit down rather than a quick flick through the racks
- Free live music and DJ nights most weeks, including the fortnightly Spuntaneous session
- Sustainable clothing from Poetic Bisons stocked alongside the records
- Late Friday and Saturday opening, unusual for a record shop
- A deliberately unsnobbish welcome for anyone still finding their way into buying records
Summary
Spun manages something plenty of shops talk about and few pull off, being a proper record shop and a proper gathering place at the same time. The stock is well chosen, the coffee and the bar give you a reason to linger, and the evening programme has made the room a fixture for musicians and listeners across Worthing. Come for a quiet dig through the secondhand crates or for a Friday session with the racks pushed back; either way it rewards the trip.
