For as long as I can remember, there’s been a record store just off Withington High Street en route to the post office. But Wilderness Record Store is quite a new development, taking over from its predecessor earlier in 2019. I was really surprised the first time I turned the corner and saw the almost tropical exterior of Wilderness, I just had to go in and check it out.

The store has been completely revamped since I’d last visited a couple of years ago. They now make a great cup of coffee made with beans from the Manchester coffee brand Grindsmith, so you can sip a cup of joe while browsing the records. They also serve toasties, cakes and beer if you’re in the mood for a snack and a drink while you peruse.

The vinyl selection is quite varied with lots of new releases as well as second-hand records. They focus on supporting the local music community by hosting gigs on site and collaborating with other well known Withington and central Manchester venues to host live music events on a larger scale. It’s open from 9 til 9 every day, and there always seems to be something impromptu and fun going on.