Popular Edinburgh record shop will not reopen after lockdown

The shop opened in 2006 as a bricks-and-morter version of their online store (Pic: Google Maps)

Unknown Pleasures opened on the Royal Mile in 2006 as a physical spin-off to their established website, vinylnet.co.uk.

While the shop will not open its doors again, the website will still be running and those who have purchased gift cards will be able to redeem them online.

In a post on their Facebook page, owners of Unknown Pleasures said that the size of the store would make social distancing extremely difficult, and limiting customers in store and implementing a queuing system would be difficult and would have an effect on people who enjoy spending long periods of time browsing the store and flicking through records, which is part of the store’s nature.

They added that like many businesses, they are reliant on the summer tourist trade and trade from Edinburgh’s festivals which have been cancelled this year, as well as not being able to allow groups into the shop. In addition, the prime location of the shop has a high rent, which is due to increase so it is not financially viable to continue to run the shop from the premise.

In a statement on their Facebook page, owners of Unknown Pleasures wrote: “We opened the shop in 2006 as a bricks-and-mortar spin-off to our already established website, and we’ve been thrilled and humbled by the support we’ve received, and the success we’ve had over the last 14 years.

“The last few years, in fact, have been our best yet and that is largely down to the loyalty of our amazing customers, and the hardworking staff (some of whom will be working for the website now). We can’t thank you all enough.

“We’ve been thinking long and hard about how to move forward with the shop in these unprecedented times, and we are struggling to see how it can continue to be viable.

“As a result, we’ve sadly decided to close our doors and instead focus on our online business, which has been busier than ever over the last few months. We won’t rule out re-opening at another location further down the line once things return to some kind of normality, but certainly at the moment we can’t justify it.

“Thanks again to all our customers past and present – we’ll miss seeing you in person and chatting with you. What will we miss most of all? Visitors from far-flung countries coming in and telling us that we are their favourite shop in Edinburgh. What will we miss least of all? Visitors from far-flung countries coming in and asking ‘Does that postbox outside work?’”

Those wishing to purchase from the retailer will still be able to on vinylnet.co.uk.

A Message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Joy Yates

Editorial Director