New independent record shop unveils its new Ilkley home

Needle & Fern will be opening on Railway Road

New Ilkley record shop Needle & Fern has announced its new home at 5 Railway Road, marking the next step towards opening its doors to music lovers across the town and beyond.

The shop may still be an empty space, but for founders Gordon Knight and Caroline Yonan-Sangar, it represents the beginning of their vision for a warm, welcoming independent record shop where everyone can discover the joy of vinyl.

Ilkley residents Gordon and Caroline say Needle & Fern grew from their shared love of music and a desire to create an accessible place where music can be discovered, shared and celebrated through vinyl.

The pair have spent the past few months developing the idea, building their record collection, listening to what local music fans want and planning the details of the new shop: “We’ve spent months imagining what Needle & Fern could be, collecting far too many records, listening to your requests and planning every little detail. And now we finally get to build it.”

The new premises at 5 Railway Road, Ilkley are currently a work in progress, with decorating, joinery, signage and the installation of the shop’s record displays still to come. Eventually, the walls will be filled with a wide-ranging collection of vinyl.

Needle & Fern will buy record collections of all sizes, whether old or new, and aims to offer a welcoming environment for experienced collectors and people discovering vinyl for the first time.

The founders added: “There’s a lot to do between this empty little shop and opening the doors, but from here on in, we can take you along for all of it.”

Needle & Fern is inviting local music fans to follow the shop’s journey as the space takes shape, with updates on the renovation, opening plans and record stock to be shared in the run-up to launch.

For further information and to join the Needle & Fern mailing list, visit:needleandfern.co.uk