moonfacerecords

[moonfacerecords]

Vinyl, Vibes, and Vintage Finds: Your Ultimate Brentwood Record Fair Day Out

Making a Day Out of Brentwood for the Fair? If you're traveling in for the fair we're hosting, it's clear you're a dedicated vinyl collector. But why stop at just the fair? Brentwood has plenty more to offer, especially if you love discovering hidden gems beyond the high street.

Record fairs are all about finding unique treasures from independent sellers—better quality, better prices, and a more personal touch. And Brentwood’s indie scene has plenty more to explore beyond records. Here are our top recommendations for cool places to visit in and around town!

Debz Delicious Creations

First up, we are proud to introduce our resident fair refreshments provider, Debz Delicious Creations! We first encountered Debz at the Epping Record Fair, where her cakes were an absolute revelation—there was no better choice of refreshments for ours in our eyes.

When planning this fair, we knew we had to have Debz on board, and for good reason. With a 5 out of 5 food rating, Debz delivers some of the finest cakes & sweet treats in all of Essex, if not the country. Based in Epping (just a short hop from Brentwood), Debz is a formidable contender—perhaps even a successor—to the big chain bakeries. Just take a look at the brownie in the image below. Mouth-watering, right? Grab yours at the fair - they are highly recommended by us!

So, when you're at the fair, don’t miss out! Grab a cake (or seven) to keep your energy up on-site, or take a few home to share with the family. After all, what better way to make up for a day away?

The Record Shops

You can’t come to a record fair and not check out the local shops, can you? Luckily, Brentwood has two permanent record shops just 5-10 minutes from the fair: Hey Joe Music and Coffee and Spinalong Records. We’ve visited both, and trust us—they’re epic!

Hey Joe Music and Coffee

Hey Joe stocks new, sealed records, including popular titles and new releases at fantastic prices—often better than the high street. If there’s a new release the Friday before the fair, Hey Joe might be your go-to. Half record shop, half coffee shop, they’re open from 10 am to 5 pm on the day of the fair. We tried their Vanilla Latte, and it was amazing! Whether you need an early pick-me-up or a warm-up on your way out, Hey Joe’s got you covered.

Spinalong Records

Spinalong is a treasure trove for vintage and second-hand records, CDs, posters, and books. It’s a real mix of all genres, so whatever your taste, you’re bound to find a gem or two. They’re open from 12 pm to 4 pm, making it a perfect stop on your way back from the fair.

Pubs and Grub

Brentwood has plenty of options for both food and pubs, but here are our top recommendations for a satisfying day out:

Breakfast/Lunch

While we’ll have excellent cakes on sale at the event, if you’re a foodie or need hot food, there are plenty of options around town. Here are our picks for independent eateries:

Konch’s Kafe - Pie & Mash During our poster and flyer adventure, we stumbled upon this local independent café on Moores Place, surrounded by other charming street shops. It turns out it's actually run by former West Ham and Liverpool star Paul Konchesky! While we didn’t get to taste the food, we regretted having eaten earlier—café breakfasts are our go-to before a fair, and the plates looked divine. With a 4.5 TripAdvisor rating, it’s definitely a tasty place to eat. We might even tuck in ourselves if we have time. Their Instagram posts speak for themselves—if those dishes aren’t to die for, we don’t know what is! If a classic English fry-up is your thing, this is the place to hit up.

EighTEA9 Another cool café/restaurant in town is EighTEA9. They offer a gourmet English menu with a Mediterranean twist. We caught a glimpse of their plates while hustling through town with our soggy posters, and the food looked stunning! Yet again, we kicked ourselves for rushing into fast food earlier. With a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor, if you fancy something traditional with a twist—much like our fair—this might be the spot for you.

If we were visitors, we’d do Konch’s for breakfast and EighTEA9 for lunch. But it works vice-versa—or even double up if you’re especially hungry!

Snacks/Dessert

Next up is a lovely little enterprise situated in the history-rich Pepperell House - Nest Crêperie. Located in front of the famous chapel ruins, this cozy spot serves a variety of crêpes (aka pancakes), along with a selection of ice creams and savory dishes—perfect for dessert! Their menu goes beyond crêpes, so it’s worth checking out.

The Watering Hole

If you’re making a day out of the fair, you’ll want a place to wrap up the day. We highly recommend The Brewery Tap along Kings Road (near Spinalong). Conveniently located on the path towards the fair, it’s the perfect place to grab a cold pint, glass of wine, or another drink after the event. If you’re heading back to the station, what could be better than settling down in a friendly local pub with your fellow fair-goers to chat about your new vinyl finds?

Got Kids in Tow?

There are plenty of activities in town to keep the kids happy! We know many parents bring their kids so they can enjoy the fair, or sometimes it’s the other way around. One interesting shop we found is the ‘Chicken and Frog Bookshop’—the best-named shop ever. It’s a specialized children’s bookshop, perfect for entertaining the little ones after a day of vinyl hunting. They’ll love the chance to have some fun, and it might even keep them quiet on the way home (unless, like us, they get car-sick—in that case, wait until you’re home!).

So there you have it! Our guide to some pretty awesome places about the town that you should check out and help support local business. But fear not if you don't have time - all you truly need for savoury's, sweets and snacks - and of course, records - is at the fair!

[moonfacerecords]

Heading to a record fair for the first time?

Check out our guide below for some helpful tips and must-knows!

What is a Record Fair?

A record fair is a gathering of independent record shops, where various sellers come together to offer a wide selection of records to the public. The vendors at these fairs can range from physical stores, traveling shops that specialize in fairs, to online traders. Some sellers do all three. They each set up their stalls around the venue, creating a market-like atmosphere. In short - it's a market full of records - so it's just leisurely browsing multiple shops in the same place.

Like any market, each stall operates independently. While the fair itself might be hosted by a single shop, there's no centralised checkout. You’ll pay each seller directly at their stall, similar to how you would at a food van at a festival.

While we always encourage supporting your local independent record shops and keeping high-street stores alive, record fairs offer a fantastic alternative if you’re seeking variety. They give you the opportunity to shop at 10-15 different "stores" in one place.

Sellers usually stock a variety of genres, much like any shop. Some may specialize in a particular genre, others in vintage records, while some might only offer new, sealed pressings. You'll also find a mix of vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, memorabilia, and merchandise.

At the Brentwood Record Fair, entry is free, so you can come and go as you please! If you get thirsty or hungry, Debz Delicious Creations will be there with refreshments, including tasty cakes and coffee.

Tips for a Great Day

Attending your first record fair can be overwhelming. With a room full of vinyl treasures, it’s hard to know where to start or how to get the best deals. Here are some key practices to help you make the most of your day:

What Time Should I Arrive? - You can arrive anytime, as there will be plenty of records on sale throughout the day. However, if you want the full experience and hope to catch some rare gems, we recommend arriving at the opening time of 10 a.m. To fully explore all the stalls at a leisurely pace, plan for about an hour.

For the best experience, try to arrive by 2 p.m. at the latest. While the fair officially stays open until 3 p.m., some sellers might start packing up earlier, especially if they have a long journey home or if the crowd thins out. Arriving late could mean a quick dash through the stalls and possibly missing out on some vendors—so it's best to avoid it if you can!

Shopping Around - It's easy to get carried away and spend a lot of money at a fair. However, most people arrive with a set budget. We recommend taking a look around all the stalls before making any purchases. You might find the same record at another stall for a lower price or in better condition.

Worried About Missing Out? - If you find something you love but need time to think, ask the seller to hold the item for you while you explore other stalls. Most sellers will happily do this, but remember to return and inform them of your decision—whether you’re buying or not. This courtesy ensures they don’t lose a potential sale.

Sometimes, sellers may give you a time limit for holding an item. If you need more time, don’t hesitate to ask for it—most sellers are flexible.

Check the Condition: Always inspect what you're buying, especially with second-hand vintage vinyl. Sellers usually allow you to check the condition of an open record. Be sure to handle it carefully. Look for scratches, label wear, and other imperfections. If you're unsure about a record's condition, you can ask the seller if they've play-tested it.

Please note that sellers typically won’t allow you to open sealed records, as this would decrease their value—they should be in mint condition anyway.

Understanding Grading Labels: You’ll often see grading labels like VG+, VG, G+, etc. on records. These refer to the condition of the record:

M - Mint

NM - Near-mint

VG+ - Very Good +

VG - Very Good

G+ - Good Plus

G - Good

F - Fair

P - Poor

Keep in mind that grading can be subjective and may vary slightly between sellers. We recommend familiarising yourself with the Goldmine standard for a reliable grading guide. Link here - https://support.discogs.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001566193-How-To-Grade-Items.

Short on Cash? - Haggling is common and welcomed at record fairs, especially for vintage records or when buying in bulk. Some sellers may even offer discounts for large purchases without you asking.

However, there’s an art to haggling. Making an offer that’s too low can offend the seller. We suggest reading up on haggling tactics and being reasonable with your offers. Remember, any discount you gain is a loss for the seller. Some items, like sealed records, may be non-negotiable.

Trading and Selling: Yes, you can trade or sell records at a fair. If you have an album you didn’t like, you can see if a seller is willing to trade it for something you want. Sellers are often looking for new stock and might be open to a trade.

However, remember that once a record has been opened and used, it’s usually worth less than what you paid. Sellers need to make a profit, so they’ll offer you a lower value for your items. Store credit is often higher than cash, so shop around before agreeing to a trade.

Cash or Card? Most sellers accept both cash and cards. However, it’s a good idea to bring some cash in case a seller doesn’t accept cards or if their card machine isn’t working.

Ultimately, attending a record fair is nice and easy - it's just like going to the shops but with like-minded people. It's a fantastic experience overall where you can chat about music to your hearts content with friends, fellow shoppers and the sellers themselves.

So there you have it! All you need to know before going to the Brentwood Record Fair, or any other for that matter! We hope, if you are a new or seasoned attendee to fairs you have found this helpful!

[moonfacerecords]

So here it is (finally!) - the full line up (in alphabetical order). We’re super proud to announce the final line-up of traders that will be present at the fair. We've attached all the social links that we know about as well as a brief bio so you can get a great idea of what will be on offer at the fair on 28th September!

Venue Details

Brentwood Record Fair

Date: Saturday 28th September 2024

Location: Bardswell Social Club, Bardswell Close, Brentwood CM14 4TJ - (5-minute walk from Brentwood High Street and 15 minutes from the railway station).

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Free Entry for consumers

Food & Drinks: Debz' Delicious Cakes will be on-site. The high-street is close so you can also grab breakfast/lunch there - plenty of options.  

The Stallholders

The Betterdog Records

From: Buckinghamshire

Bio: Betterdog Records, hailing from the wonderful Milton Keynes, are a very established based traders who run a successful and popular online store that also attends record fairs, mainly in the Bucks region. They're making the trek, and from what we understand, their debut in Essex, bringing a fresh selection of excellent vinyl, from vintage to new sealed records, at great prices. Co-owner Amanda previously ran a highly successful London record shop. You can check out there shop / stock here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/thebetterdogrecords & https://www.discogs.com/user/thebetterdog

Social media Link(s): Facebook: thebetterdogrecords, Instragram: thebetterdogrecords, TikTok: thebetterdogrecords, X: thebetterdog

Chris Morris

From: Surrey

Bio: Coming from a land far-far-away (Surrey) we have Chris, an independent trader specialising in all kinds of fantastic records. We have been at a number of fairs alongside Chris and he offers a real all-rounded range of titles. A bit of everything, new sealed stuff and vintage. Great prices!

Ed Rug

From: Northamptonshire

Bio: Another coming a long distance for the fair is Ed, or Eddie. Ed stocks a variety of pre-loved vintage vinyl. His stock ranges from pop & rock, prog & psych to soul, jazz & reggae. Generally an all rounder stocking all genres. With 10 years experience in record trading, some of which alongside us, we can guarantee you that Ed’s selection will as always be amazing. If your a vintage collector definitely take a look at this stall!

Social Media(s): Instagram: teddy64lps, TikTok: teddy64lps

Fatmod Records

From: Essex

Bio: Locally based trader offering a wide range of music with a focus on Mod/60s and beyond. Offer a bit of everything, including Metal, Jazz, Reggae (lots of Ska), Female artists, and box sets. Stock both old and new albums, singles, cassettes, CDs, and music-related items like tote bags, dividers, badges, and occasionally t-shirts. Has done pop-up shops and various fairs around Essex, Herts, and Kent, and also sells online (Discogs, occasionally eBay).

Social Media Link(s): https://www.fatmod-records.co.uk/, Facebook: Fatmod Records, Instagram: Fatmodrecordsltd, X: @FatmodR

Glenn Evans

From: Essex

Bio: Glenns stall will offer you a real mix of vintage gems in the form of classic rock, punk, pop and many more. Through selling alongside Glenn at fairs such as the Pink Toothbrush, Southend and Chelmsford we've had plenty of opportunities to browse their stock, and it's always gold! All are in great condition and great prices!

Jim Mallard

From: Buckinghamshire

Bio: Jim is the organiser of the Milton Keynes Record Fair which takes place at the famous Crauford Arms in Wolverton (where some pretty awesome bands play) every quarter. Jim is a Hard Rock / Heavy Metal specialist, but stocks other stuff too. Seriously, if you are a metalhead Jim is your main man. Regardless of whether other dealers are carrying heavy metal classics you will find a range of popular titles as well as obscure gems in there.

Moonface Records

From: Essex

Bio: Your host for the day - Moonface Records (us) - are a travelling record shop selling across Essex, Herts, Bucks, Beds and Berks but have also made appearances in Surrey, Kent and London as well. We specialise predominantly in new sealed vinyl (priced at around 30% lower than the high-street) but also dabble in vintage LP’s, as well as a 7 inch singles, CD’s and cassettes also. Our primary target market is younger enthusiasts, collectors or those curious however we stock to suit all ages overall. We stock new releases and popular must-haves.

Social Media Link(s): Facebook: moonfacerecords, Instragram: moonfacerecords, TikTok: moonface.records

Nilsatis

From: Essex

Bio: Paul’s first record fare was way back in 1982! So if you are looking to buy off a real veteran, here is your man! Paul moved to Essex 10 years ago and remained trading regularly around the area. His goal is to spread the love of vinyl especially to younger people as they are the future. They specialise in a range of goods, most genres - so another all rounder

Owen Pointing

From: Essex

Bio: Owen is the resident local trader - as he lives in Brentwood! He specialises in Soul, Tamla Motown and Reggae but carries a huge range to suit all pockets. Owen is a regular at many of the Essex record fairs and offers some absolute classics!

Phoenix Records

From: Berkshire

Bio: Phoenix Records, run by the fantastic Mike, who co-runs the fantastic Windsor and Bracknell Record fairs in Berkshire. Phoenix boast probably one of the most amazing selection Funk, Soul and Reggae selections i’ve ever seen. Whilst these remain their primary servings they also stock a lot more - so no matter what your taste check out their wares!

Social Media Link(s): https://www.windsorrecordfair.co.uk/, Facebook: windsorrecordfair, Instagram: windorrecordfair

SLAB Records

From: Essex

Bio: SLAB Records, an extremely popular shop in Loughton, Essex, is run by the friendly James and paired with the Sound Lab recording studio, known for working with big names. James also is the host and creator of the excellent Epping Record Fair. We recently had the pleasure of selling in their shop as a guest, which gave us a really good insight to what they have - literally everything. So expect a real mix of amazing vintage and new gems to be in the boxes. You can take a look for yourself here at his discogs shop - https://www.discogs.com/seller/slabrecords/profile.

Social Media Link(s): Website: https://www.slabrecords.co.uk/, Facebook: Instagram: slabrecordshop, Tik Tok: slab_records, X: SLABRecords

Swoonara Records

From: Essex

Bio: Swoonara specialise in second-hand, vintage rock LPs and have been trading for over a year. They have their own radio show called ‘The Vinyl Revival’ which airs every Thursday at 9pm on City Sounds Chelmsford, an independent radio station based in Essex.

Social Media Links(s): Facebook: swoonararecords, Instagram: swoonararecords

Vinyl Matters

From: Essex

Bio: Mark is an independent trader based in south-east Essex, specialising in all genres - we personally love his Classic / Hard Rock selection - there is always gem upon gem in there. A hobbyist and enthusiast, Mark is definitely one you want to check out if you are looking for vintage classics!

Vinyl Revivalist

From: Essex

Bio: Phil is a vinyl fanatic & occasional jazz-funk bass slapper, who has been buying and selling vinyl for around 40 years! Operating in Essex and London and specialising in 1960’s to 1980’s vintage vinyl he also offers a solid selection of collectors items (the rare bits!) from the 2000’s when vinyl wasn’t being pressed as much. So if you are looking for that rare noughties original you have always wanted, check out Phil’s stall!

Social Media Link(s): Website: https://www.elvinyl.com/vinylrevivalist, Facebook: Vinylrevivalist, Instagram: vinylrevivalist

Others

Friends: Also, there are two excellent indie record shops in Brentwood - Hey Joe Music and Coffee and Spinalong Records. They are both a 5 minutes walk away from the fair so make sure you go check them out too!

PLUS - superb, delicious cakes will be on sale on site courtesy of DebzDeliciousCreations!

So there you have it ladies and gentlemen - a real mix of brilliant local traders as well as awesome shops from outside the area. So catch them all in one place whilst you can! A lot of the dealers will of course not be able to bring their entire arsenal of stock so do check out their online stores too!