Piccadilly Records still spinning on Oldham Street after decades in Manchester

Ask a Mancunian music fan where to buy records and the answer usually comes quickly. Piccadilly Records, at 53 Oldham Street in the heart of the Northern Quarter, has been a destination for crate diggers and new music lovers for generations.

The shop's story began in 1978, the same year that Factory Records was founded, a coincidence The Vinyl Factory has noted in its series on the world's best record shops. One account traces its origins to a record department within Edwin P. Lees, a North West retailer better known for fridges and washing machines, at Piccadilly Plaza.

Through the 1980s the shop prospered as an outlet for the city's post-punk scene, building a reputation for championing new music and, above all, local artists. In 1990 new management took over and continued to build on that reputation.

In 1997 the team decided to move to a more affordable part of town and found premises on Oldham Street, where the shop has remained ever since. Its arrival came as the Northern Quarter was becoming the creative heart of the city, and the two have grown up together.

The awards cabinet reflects how highly the shop is regarded. Piccadilly Records has been named Best Independent Record Store by Music Week and Best Record Store at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards, and it has featured on the Guardian's list of the best record shops.

Coverage in 2025 continued to describe it as one of the UK's most respected independent record shops, known for the breadth of genres on its shelves. Visit Manchester included it in its guide to record shops for Record Store Day 2025, held on 12 April, when queues of collectors are a familiar sight on Oldham Street.

Part of the appeal is the knowledge behind the counter. Staff recommendations and a carefully chosen range make browsing a voyage of discovery, whether you arrive looking for a specific release or leave with something you never expected.

Piccadilly Records sits in the middle of the Northern Quarter, a short walk from Piccadilly Gardens, and is well worth a visit on any trip into the city, particularly around Record Store Day.