Survival(!) of an independent classical CD shop!

[hafod]

Partly true.

I went over to Bath this morning and visited the new shop.

However, the new shop is much smaller, rather gloomy and has little or none of the buzz and airy delight of the former premises which, incidentally, were in an ideal location. (There is a small jazz section right at the back of the new shop.) The person behind the till said that they had the same level of stock on display - something I find barely credible. I would have said that the stock level had halved. That might be wrong but perception is an important factor.

Anyway, one good thing was that I took the opportunity to explore Toppings, a book shop just a few yards away on the corner of Broad Street and The Paragon. It has a narrow-ish frontage but goes back almost endlessly. So much more exciting and interesting than Waterstone's. I emphatically urge anyone visiting Bath to explore the shop.

Your response to the new BCD shop echoes mine johnb (#48 refers). They may carry the same stock but it most certainly is not all on display and browsing is a far less enjoyable experience. I fully agree about Toppings - a very positive asset to the city and long may it last.

[Stephen Smith]

Hopping back to Foyles - it was rather like 1980's Moscow? I recall throwing a screwed up payment chit in the air on a couiple of occasions, leaving a static cashier's queue (leaving the book behind & heading for Dillons in Bloomsbury). Yes it has much improved, and the CD dept is quite good but pretty much full price.
The Building next door has been vacated by St Martins and has Foyles logos on the windows. A staff member told me that Foyles has bought (the lease?) and would be occupying it. Maybe that means they will fit it out and move over, rather than add it to the warren of floors/lifts etc but this just speculation. At present it is a trial getting there from Tott Court Rd as it is behind the massive Crossrail site (hole in the ground)

[Bathcds]

We're still here!

This is just to officially confirm that Bath CDs are indeed still in business! We moved in February to a premises directly opposite the old one, mainly for financial reasons (rents and rates are particularly high in Bath, and in the end it came down to a choice between a smaller shop or no shop!), but also because the new shop gives us more room for mail order which is the biggest part of our business.

I'd like to quickly comment on a few of the points made on previous posts.

Size: The new shop is smaller than the old one (it's quite a bit narrower, but about 50% longer). However the new cabinets hold a lot more stock than the previous ones, so the stock we have is about 90% of what was in the old shop, plus the stock from Broad Street Jazz (who were previously next door to us).

Website: Apologies to those who have struggled with our out of date site and inaccurate information on there. We're currently in the latter stages of having a new one built which will enable on-line ordering, and this will hopefully be up and running before Christmas.

Lighting: The lighting in the shop isn't as good as it should be, and we're hoping to improve this in the near future.

Thanks for all your comments and concerns!

Steve Macallister
Bath CDs

[Serial_Apologist]

At present it is a trial getting there from Tott Court Rd as it is behind the massive Crossrail site (hole in the ground)

AhAAA - so that's what's going on there!

[salymap]

Completely off topic, does anyone know if the Brian Jordan music shop is still in existence? It was in Cambridge I think but, Brian, an ex colleague ina publishing firm, died fairly recently. I think they sold/sell sheet music and CDs.

[french frank]

Hello, Steve!

And thanks very much for the update. I hope some of the comments have been helpful At least we've raised the profile of Bath CDs among our membership and The World ...

Best wishes - and long life!

This is just to officially confirm that Bath CDs are indeed still in business! We moved in February to a premises directly opposite the old one, mainly for financial reasons (rents and rates are particularly high in Bath, and in the end it came down to a choice between a smaller shop or no shop!), but also because the new shop gives us more room for mail order which is the biggest part of our business.

I'd like to quickly comment on a few of the points made on previous posts.

Size: The new shop is smaller than the old one (it's quite a bit narrower, but about 50% longer). However the new cabinets hold a lot more stock than the previous ones, so the stock we have is about 90% of what was in the old shop, plus the stock from Broad Street Jazz (who were previously next door to us).

Website: Apologies to those who have struggled with our out of date site and inaccurate information on there. We're currently in the latter stages of having a new one built which will enable on-line ordering, and this will hopefully be up and running before Christmas.

Lighting: The lighting in the shop isn't as good as it should be, and we're hoping to improve this in the near future.

Thanks for all your comments and concerns!

Steve Macallister
Bath CDs

[Richard Tarleton]

This is just to officially confirm that Bath CDs are indeed still in business! We moved in February to a premises directly opposite the old one, mainly for financial reasons (rents and rates are particularly high in Bath, and in the end it came down to a choice between a smaller shop or no shop!), but also because the new shop gives us more room for mail order which is the biggest part of our business.

I'd like to quickly comment on a few of the points made on previous posts.

Size: The new shop is smaller than the old one (it's quite a bit narrower, but about 50% longer). However the new cabinets hold a lot more stock than the previous ones, so the stock we have is about 90% of what was in the old shop, plus the stock from Broad Street Jazz (who were previously next door to us).

Website: Apologies to those who have struggled with our out of date site and inaccurate information on there. We're currently in the latter stages of having a new one built which will enable on-line ordering, and this will hopefully be up and running before Christmas.

Lighting: The lighting in the shop isn't as good as it should be, and we're hoping to improve this in the near future.

Thanks for all your comments and concerns!

Steve Macallister
Bath CDs

Hi Steve

Delighted to read the above, and good luck. Two questions - do you still remove CDs from their cases, and did that Tartini CD ever turn up? (Hyperion The Devil's Trill, E Wallfisch). Will look in next time I'm in Bath.

[Jonathan]

Completely off topic, does anyone know if the Brian Jordan music shop is still in existence? It was in Cambridge I think but, Brian, an ex colleague ina publishing firm, died fairly recently. I think they sold/sell sheet music and CDs.

Oh, that's a shame. When I lived near Cambridge I would always visit to see what was in. Whenever I visited, he never had any CDs but always had tons of interesting sheet music (I got most of my volumes of the New Liszt Edition there, as well as lots of other stuff).

I believe someone else ran the shops website (possibly his daughter?) so maybe the shop is still open? Anyone else know?

Back on topic - very glad to hear Bath CDs is still going although I've not visited for ages. Must go to Bath again at some point!

[Petrushka]

Yes, getting to Foyles from T C Road is a bit of a trial at present. My method is to proceed further down Oxford Street, turn left into Soho Square, go across the aquare and turn into Manette Road/Street (can't remember which) and Foyles magically appears.

The shop is much improved. I well remember the old days of the chit system of double queuing for your purchase and it was indeed exactly like the shops in Moscow. When I went to Moscow in 1979 I was therefore already acquainted with the system.

Glad to see Bath CD is still going. Not been to Bath for many years so could be up for a visit in the not too distant future.

[cloughie]

This is just to officially confirm that Bath CDs are indeed still in business! We moved in February to a premises directly opposite the old one, mainly for financial reasons (rents and rates are particularly high in Bath, and in the end it came down to a choice between a smaller shop or no shop!), but also because the new shop gives us more room for mail order which is the biggest part of our business.

I'd like to quickly comment on a few of the points made on previous posts.

Size: The new shop is smaller than the old one (it's quite a bit narrower, but about 50% longer). However the new cabinets hold a lot more stock than the previous ones, so the stock we have is about 90% of what was in the old shop, plus the stock from Broad Street Jazz (who were previously next door to us).

Website: Apologies to those who have struggled with our out of date site and inaccurate information on there. We're currently in the latter stages of having a new one built which will enable on-line ordering, and this will hopefully be up and running before Christmas.

Lighting: The lighting in the shop isn't as good as it should be, and we're hoping to improve this in the near future.

Thanks for all your comments and concerns!

Steve Macallister
Bath CDs

Pleased to hear BCD is alive and well.

[Richard Tarleton]

Annual visit to Suffolk and a browse in Wells in Queen Street, Southwold. The shop also sells books, gifts, postcards etc. but tucked away at the back is an excellent and eclectic classical CD store with a remarkable selection.

[Beef Oven]

Annual visit to Suffolk and a browse in Wells in Queen Street, Southwold. The shop also sells books, gifts, postcards etc. but tucked away at the back is an excellent and eclectic classical CD store with a remarkable selection.

Remark then.

[BBMmk2]

I havmt been for a llpng while now, but can I reccomend Fine Records in George Street, hove/ The prop[rietor there knows exactly where it is you want and a tremendous character too!

[cloughie]

I havmt been for a llpng while now, but can I reccomend Fine Records in George Street, hove/ The prop[rietor there knows exactly where it is you want and a tremendous character too!

Probably a ccding while by now!

[Richard Tarleton]

Remark then.

I just have.
OED: Remark: To point out
OED: Remarkable: Worthy of remark, notice or observation......