British Heart Foundation

In my opinion, this charity shop has struck just the right balance. It’s not as super-​scrubbed and clinical as Oxfam has become, nor does it smell vaguely of wee — it’s organised but not regimented, and it isn’t pretending to be a high street retailer. It is organised by type of garment and then size, which is logical, and has a decent selection for both men and women, which is unusual. The best bits are the dresses and accessories, both of which are consistently well stocked and adrift with bargains, but there is also the possibility of finding a wearable shirt in your size without a ‘jazzy’ print of parrots or pieces of fruit. There’s also a good book section, although it’s overshadowed a bit by the dedicated sister store down the road — this is where the Jilly Coopers end up, so if you need an injection of chick-​lit, head here first. There are spacious changing rooms, unobtrusive shop assistants who clearly enjoy volunteering there, and references to the charity everywhere, with information about current projects and how to donate and help out in various ways. Items are in good repair, clean and wearable straight from the shop. It’s all mixed together though, like the charity shops of old, so if designer bargains are your thing, they’re nestled up to the Primark and they’re still £3.99. Overall, a welcoming, inexpensive all rounder of a charity shop.

There are quite a number of charity shops up and down London Road all offering their own collection of donated clothes, books and other items. But British Heart Foundation has the best selection for vinyl. As with most things that are worth having, you have to search for them and there isn’t a time I go past that I don’t have a rummage just in case. They range in price and they range in quality, but maybe one time they will have something you will treasure forever.

I found a mint vinyl copy of Little Earthquakes here yesterday.
For the bargain price of £5!!!
I’ve been searching for this record for at least eight to ten years and here it was, sat in the window of British Heart Foundation, just waiting for me. There were lots of other great looking records and books dotted around too. But I’ll be honest with you, I couldn’t concentrate.
I just wanted to get home, drop the needle into the groove and play Tori Amos’s amazing debut album at full volume.

This is a great little bookshop and record shop where all the proceeds go to the British Heart Foundation. It’s well worth the trip out of town down London Road– particularly if you collect records, they always have a good selection for a few pounds each. The shop is small so the selection is limited but it still packs a second-​hand punch– good quality fiction (both the range of titles and their condition), cookery, politics, history, reference, photography. They also have a small section of dvds– all checked to make sure they are working.