Independent Stores (From Your Local Guardian)

Independent Stores

11:28pm Friday 11th May 2012 in Young Reporter

In Year 11 Geography our class spent an entire term studying ‘clone towns’. Towns across Britain whose high streets contained similar, if not the exact replica of shops; chain stores such as Marks & Spencer, Boots and Topshop. This ‘copy and paste’ effect further occurs within cities: the high street of Clapham contains very similar shops to Richmond high street, for example. It is refreshing for the consumer therefore, to find a store that is unique, both due to its products and the fact no other town has it.

Banquet Records is an independent record store in Kingston, Surrey. More than just a local record shop, Banquet Records hosts numerous gigs and events with both local artists and well-known faces. Their emphasis is to expose fresh talent, and their in store gigs are free to the public, an excellent and intimate way to listen to live music and up and coming talent. Artists that have performed in the store include Laura Marling, Noah & The Whale and Frank Turner to name but a few.

The store’s speciality is in “new and cutting edge artists from the world of Indie, Punk, Emo, Electro, House, Booties, Drum 'n' Bass and Dubstep.” Refreshingly different, Banquet Records provide a unique feel and addition to our local area. Stores such as these most importantly offer the individualistic, tailored feel a customer only gets from a place that has arisen in response to locals’ needs and tastes.

Let us hope local stores such as Banquet Records change the face of our high streets in the future- and consequently stop 'clone towns' being a problem we face.