Winyl MANNINGTREE
After decades working in music retail and gaining experience of the wine industry, Steve Tattam combined his profession and his passion with the launch of Winyl. Christopher Barrett samples what’s in store
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIEL JONES
Located in England’s smallest town, Manningtree, on the River Stour in north Essex, the suitably diminutive Winyl has proven a big hit with locals since it was launched in October 2018 by former Virgin and Our Price employee Steve Tattam.
As the name suggests, Winyl is a cunning combination of its founder’s greatest pleasures; vinyl and wine. Selling a selection of vegan and organic wine and craft beer, alongside a handpicked range of new and second-hand vinyl, Tattam encourages visitors to enjoy a beverage or two while playing records on the store’s Audio-Technica deck.
Winyl hosts a monthly Singles Club, where participants are encouraged to bring their own records along to play and discuss in the shop. Tattam admits the club nights have included some confused participants who take a little while to realise they are more likely to find an album by Love than romance in the shop.
Winyl also hosts a Songwriting Circle that sees local musicians and any other interested parties turn up and jam in the store. Such has been the success of this unique little shop that it is already drawing visitors from outside the area, while its reputation saw Winyl become one of only two record shops to be shortlisted for the Indie Retail Best Small Shop awards at the House Of Commons last year.
Winyl is no part-time hobby for Tattam either, the store is a carefully crafted concept, the culmination of 20 years in music retailing and a period specialising in duty free wine. After an unsatisfying stretch working in the corporate veterinary business, Tattam knew it was time to make a change. He says: “I had had a few interviews in the corporate world and couldn’t feel it anymore; spending all of these hours doing it for someone else was exhausting. I thought, ‘I have worked for a long time for other people, let’s see what I can achieve for myself’.