The Music Exchange

December 2012

RECORD shops have been struggling to survive for a number of years as the download culture continues to dominate the way we buy music.
And yet Nottingham’s Music Exchange has just moved to larger premises in Hockley.
The specialist vinyl record shop in Stoney Street has also expanded its range to include homeware and gifts.
“It’s been good timing,” explains manager Joey Bell, a former employee of Selectadisc.
“Vinyl sales have been rising steadily over the past couple of years and there is a lot of demand for it. It’s quite a cool thing to be buying.”
The shop was originally based in the West End Arcade.
“We've had to move to a larger shop as more and more records are being released and we have run out of room for them.”
The Music Exchange was first set up three years ago as a second-hand record shop, as part of the homeless charity Framework.
Says Joey: “Our stock was all from public donations but it became apparent that Nottingham wanted new vinyl.”
He adds: “We have such a broad demographic of customers and it’s really nice see the shop full of young kids discovering vinyl for the first time.”
The shop also sells vinyl records by local artists, plus a range of gifts that include cushions, mugs and coasters designed by Ella Doran, all featuring record players and stacks of vinyl.
Says Joey: “I think that Nottingham has such an amazing music scene and it’s great to be able to sell records from local bands.”
It is staffed by volunteers and any profit goes back to Framework.
“We put on gigs in the city and in the shop,” says Joey.
The shop launched with an in-store gig by Kogumaza and on Wednesday, December 19 Bitter Strings will play the Music Exchange Christmas Party at Nottingham Contemporary.
“Our sales continue to increase with every month and that was one of the main reasons for the expansion.
“We hope that the move will bring in a whole new customer base. We were a bit tucked away in the arcade but now we are on the main thoroughfare of what is an exciting and creative area at the moment.”
He says that the shop goes some way to fill the hole left by the closure of Selectadisc in 2009, after more than 40 years in business.
“It’s important for a city to have an independent record shop, as places such as Selectadisc played such a big part of people’s lives.
“I'm sure many people can remember the first record they bought from Selectadisc, and it’s those kind of feelings you can’t attach to an MP3.”
The Music Exchange is open 10am to 5:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
The annual Christmas Party at Nottingham Contemporary on Wednesday will feature Bitter Strings playing live and DJ sets from Anders (Hello Thor), Paul K (LeftLion) and Sue Starbuck. It starts at 7.30pm and admission is free.

For more about the shop go to themusicexchange.org.uk.

The Larder

March 2010

HE found it under the floorboards. A three inch clear glass bottle bearing the Boots logo. The shop closed in the 1960s but the bottle is clearly Victorian.
And he’s added it to a small collection that sits just inside the restaurant.
On the wall above is an original shop sign.
“I think more can be made of the history,” says Ewan McFarlane, who took over ownership of The Larder in December, following three years as its head chef.
“There should at least be a blue plaque on the wall outside saying that this was the very first Boots shop.
“We’re trying to set up a link with Boots to get some of their stuff in here. The archivist said she’d get us copies of the original plans to display.”
The Larder is on the first floor of the Grade II Listed building which once housed Jesse’s first shop.
He was born round the corner on Woolpack Lane in 1850. His father, John, ran a shop in Goosegate selling his mother’s herbal remedies to the sick and needy who lived in the overcrowded streets nearby.
Ten years’ later his father died, leaving his wife Mary to run the business. Jesse left school at 13 to help run the shop and eight years later, in 1871, he opened a new, larger shop a few doors down, now home to The Larder.
It’s bright, due to the floor to ceiling windows, original dark wood floors, dark leather seating, chandeliers and cream and mint green walls broken by curious paintings of farm animals.
“People do sometimes comment on the fact that you’re looking at the paintings of what you’re eating,” laughs Ewan, 32.
“But we inherited them. That said, I quite like them. I think they’ll stay.”
The food is British, modern and traditional. Steak, pork, fish, beetroot, mushroom, cheese... there’s a Shepherd’s Pie but that’s lentil, for the sandal-wearing lot.
“Outside gastropubs, it’s hard to find British dishes done well,” says Ewan, who grew up in Lady Bay.
Current dishes include fried sprats with lemon and caper mayonnaise, goose breast with creamed parley root and balsamic baby onions and old-fashioned favourites such as suet dumplings and Eton Mess.
Most of the ingredients are locally sourced, including Cropwell Bishop stilton, Beedham's chorizo from Sherwood butcher Johnny Pustzai.
Steak is a speciality.
“When I first took over the kitchen I realised that about a quarter of all our customers would order steak. At the time the only one we offered was sirloin, which is a superb cut, but expensive. Around the start of 2008, beef prices went through the roof so we had to look really carefully at what we were doing.
“I'd always been interested in how in other countries they seemed to get so much more out of the animal, so started researching and applying French style techniques to British beef. The result is getting away from pre-portioned steaks to offer some truly fantastic cuts that nobody else seems to bother with.”
He learnt his trade at Antonio Carluccio’s flagship Neal Street restaurant in London and The Sanctuary in Radcliffe-on-Trent.
The Larder is the first time he’s put his name above the door.
“There’s more paperwork but my role as chef hasn’t changed. Although I am doing an 80-hour-week these days.”
Only one day out of the seven does he get to spend with his 21 month old twins.
“But when an opportunity like this comes along you have to take it.”
Apart from embracing the Boots heritage, he hasn’t any plans for changing the way The Larder operates.
“I think what we do works very well. We’ve been a word-of-mouth find for a while but this year it’s really taken off.”

www.thelarderongoosegate.co.uk