Upside Down Records, a store specializing in pre-loved vinyl and CDs, has just opened its doors in Deptford, South London. The store was born from the ashes of Rat Records, a beloved record store in Camberwell that had closed down in 2022. You can find the new establishment on 203 Deptford High Street, SE8 3NT.
Philippe Giron, who managed Rat Records for its final 15 years, will serve as the face of the new store. Originally from France, Giron moved to London in 1997, started working as a DJ and small events promoter, and played alongside Andrew Weatherall, A Guy Called Gerald, and other acid house luminaries. Giron’s extensive knowledge and passion for music led him to Rat Records. He spent a total of 10 years playing bars and clubs before deciding to settle down and manage the establishment.
Tom Fisher, Rat Records’ previous owner, decided to retire after 15 years of running the shop, which led to its closure. However, he praised Philippe Giron for his knowledge and musical taste. Fisher said, “the final and greatest manager of Rat Records” was “the perfect man for the job” with a depth of musical knowledge that “veers from ragtime blues all the way to techno via post-rock, indie and electronica, reggae, and jazz.”
After Rat Records closed down, Giron spent almost a year operating an online record shop through Upside Down Records’ Instagram, Discogs, and eBay while also offering customers the chance to come to his house and browse through his collection. He finally found a venue for the new store on Deptford High Street in June, and since then, he has transformed the building site into a fully operational record shop, having opened its doors on November 18.
Upside Down Records is open every day until December 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Monday to Saturday) and from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays. If you’re a vinyl fanatic in London, be sure to drop by and take a look at their wide selection of pre-loved records.
[Tibor Heskett is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter.]
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