The Book andRecord Bar

The Book and Record Bar occupies a shopfront on Norwood High Street, opened in August 2013 by Michael Johnson after he began selling records from his own collection at Feast, the local monthly market. Trade grew from a stall into a permanent shop stocking new and secondhand vinyl spanning psychedelic rock, punk, soul and reggae, shelved alongside a smaller run of secondhand books. The premises hold a full alcohol licence, so evenings turn the shop into a listening bar, with soul nights, bring-your-own-record sessions and live band sets on a rotating schedule. Johnson also broadcasts a local radio show, the West Norwood Broadcasting Company, from the same address, giving the shop a second life as a community studio after closing time.