Regional Guide
Record Fairs & Vinyl Shops in the North East
The North East has a thriving vinyl scene, from hall-style collectors' fairs to a strong cluster of independent record shops. This is our evergreen guide to where to dig for records across the region, whether you want a proper fair with dozens of dealers or a favourite local shop to browse on a day out. Fair dates move through the year, so we list the venues and organisers and point you to the current calendar. Always check before you travel.
Record fairs across the region
Recurring and pop-up collectors' fairs, from the Quayside to Teesside. Check each organiser for the next date.
Newcastle Record Fair
Copthorne Hotel, The Close, Quayside, NE1 3RT
Semi-regular · 10am–3pm
The city's main collectors' fair, run on the Quayside by Great Northern Music Fairs several times a year. Expect a hotel function room packed with dealers' crates spanning every genre, from rare soul and jazz to indie and metal. Dates are typically spread across the year rather than monthly, so check the current calendar before travelling.
Check the Record Fairs UK calendar→Durham Record Fairs (Bowburn & Coxhoe)
Bowburn Community Hall, DH6 5AT · Coxhoe Village Hall, DH6 4DB
Several times a year · 10am–3pm
The nearest recurring fairs to Durham city are held in the community halls at Bowburn and Coxhoe, just to the south, run by the same Great Northern Music Fairs team behind the Newcastle event. Friendly, hall-style fairs that are well worth the short hop from the city.
Check the Record Fairs UK calendar→South Shields Record Fair
All Saints Parish Hall, Cleadon Village, SR6 7UR
A few times a year · 10am–3pm
Held on the leafy Cleadon edge of South Shields and run by the Roker Records organiser, this is the coast's own collectors' fair. A relaxed local hall fair, good for a morning's crate-digging near the seafront.
Read our South Shields record guide→Whitley Bay Record Fair
The Left Luggage Room, Monkseaton Metro Station, NE26 3NR
Occasional pop-up · afternoons
The Pop-Up Record Shop runs occasional vinyl fairs at the Left Luggage Room, the much-loved micropub inside Monkseaton's restored station building, a genuinely characterful spot to flick through records with a pint. Dates are irregular, so follow the venue for the next one.
Read our Whitley Bay record guide→Middlesbrough Record Fair
The Old Fire Station / The Crypt, Town Hall, TS1 2QQ
Several times a year
Run by the well-established Betterdaze, Teesside's fair moves between the Old Fire Station and the atmospheric Crypt beneath the Town Hall, with a big 'Christmas' fair at the year's end. One of the region's longest-running organisers.
Check Betterdaze dates→Darlington Record Fair
Darlington Covered Market, DL1 5PX
Roughly monthly · 10am–4pm
The most frequent fair in the wider region, held in Darlington's grand Victorian covered market on a near-monthly basis. An easy one to build a regular habit around if you are at the southern end of the North East.
Check the Record Fairs UK calendar→Stockton Record Fair
Myton House Farm, Ingleby Barwick, TS17 0WB
Occasional pop-up · afternoons
The Pop-Up Record Shop (also behind the Whitley Bay fair) runs occasional afternoon fairs at Ingleby Barwick on Teesside. Check ahead, as dates are irregular.
Century Decayed Record Fairs
Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham & Hartlepool (rotating)
Independent organiser · check listings
An active independent organiser running fairs across several North East towns. Venues and dates rotate, so check their social pages for the next event near you before setting off.
See Century Decayed listings→Tynemouth Market (vinyl stalls)
Tynemouth Metro Station, NE30 4RE
Every weekend · not a dedicated fair
Not a collectors' fair as such, but the famous weekend flea market inside Tynemouth's Victorian station always has a handful of vinyl and vintage-music stalls among its 150-plus traders. A reliable weekend option for casual crate-digging by the coast.
Read our Tynemouth record guide→Independent record shops
Bricks-and-mortar shops worth a special trip, with Newcastle the strongest cluster.
Reflex
Nun Street, Newcastle city centre
Newcastle
A Newcastle institution: a huge in-store stock of new and used vinyl and CDs across every genre, plus a big online catalogue and a long history of in-store events and signings.
Beatdown Records
Bewick Street, near Central Station, Newcastle
Newcastle
Trading since 2006 with one of the biggest second-hand vinyl collections in the North East, alongside new and limited releases. A proper digger's shop.
RPM Music
Old George Yard, off Cloth Market, Newcastle
Newcastle
One of the city's longest-running stores, tucked down a historic yard, known for limited releases, second-hand rarities and vintage audio gear.
Vinyl Guru
Westgate Road, Newcastle
Newcastle
A long-established independent on Westgate Road with tens of thousands of new and pre-owned records across all genres, plus accessories and audio bits.
586 Records
High Street, Gateshead
Gateshead
A vinyl-only shop just across the river with a stock of 15,000-plus records, plus cassettes and flexi-discs, a favourite for genre depth.
Pop Recs Ltd
Sunderland city centre
Sunderland
Far more than a shop: a community record store, café and live-music/arts venue founded by members of Frankie & The Heartstrings, and one of Sunderland's cultural hubs.
Hot Rats Records
Waterloo Place, Sunderland
Sunderland
An independent Sunderland vinyl shop stocking new and second-hand records, well worth pairing with a Pop Recs visit.
Mama Roux Records
Whitley Bay town centre
Whitley Bay
The coast's own independent, with a wide genre range, vinyl box sets and a line in clothing and merchandise, a great browse on a Whitley Bay day out.
The Record Shed
Durham Indoor Market
Durham
A friendly stall inside Durham's Victorian market selling vinyl, DVDs and retro games, and offering vinyl and cassette-to-CD transfers.
Plan & book your visit
- Find places to stay in Newcastle→— make a weekend of a Quayside record-fair trip
More across the region
Pair a record hunt with our guides to the region's market towns, best days out and what is on across the region this weekend.