Wilderness Record Store, the neighbourhood bar and record shop in Withington, has said that it will close down - of all days - on Record Store Day this weekend. Its last day of trading will be Saturday (April 23), and it’s inviting regulars to come down and see it off.
In a post to its Instagram page, owners said: “It’s with a very heavy heart that we have to announce that Wilderness is closing down. Record Store Day this Saturday 23rd April will be our last day open. Thank you to all of the artists and bands who have played here & all of the DJs who have spun records.
“A massive thank you also goes out to every single customer who has supported us ever since we opened back in 2019, who packed themselves in like a tin of sardines to watch gigs, who kept us going throughout a global pandemic, who bought toasties when that was the only way we could reopen, and who continued to come back when the rules subsided.
“And on top of that, thank you to all of our incredible members of staff who have made the shop what it is, we know they’re a big part of why so many of you keep coming back. We are all gutted to be losing what is a sanctuary in the heart of Withington, but we have made amazing friends and loved sharing our music and fun times with you all! Come for one last night out with us this Saturday and buy us a drink or two, we need it x.”
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The shop was opened in April 2019 - poetically, also on Record Store day - serving booze, vinyl and toasties, as well as hosting film screenings, workshops, artists Q&As, DJ sets and in store performances.
It was set up by a team of all-stars from the Manchester restaurant and bar seen, notably Lyndon Higginson, of Crazy Pedros, The Liars Club and Bunny Jacksons fame, Dan Morris, managing director of Escape To Freight Island, and Bart Murphy and Mat Lake, who launched Junkyard Golf.
Higginson, who is a Withington resident, told the Manchester Evening News: “Sadly, it’s just not worked out. We tried our very best to create a cool community hub in a great little area, but if people are buying records from Amazon and coffees from Costa, then it’s really difficult to compete.
“We’re really sad to see it go, and we’re all gutted.”
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