Hundred Records: Romsey’s Indie Staple Hits Milestone

Walk past 47 The Hundred and the pull of fresh wax hits quick. Hundred Records stocks shelves with vinyl and CDs across rock, jazz, soul, country, dance and electronic, classical – you name it, they chase the good stuff.

Pre-sales roll in for upcoming drops like Kula Shaker’s Wormslayer or David Gilmour’s live cuts, while merch like T-shirts and books rounds out the haul. Owner Matt Foyle keeps the vibe steady, ordering in requests that don’t sit on the racks already.

This place kicked off in November 2014, when Mark Wills set up shop in a town craving its own music hub. For a decade, it held court as Romsey’s sole record joint, drawing punters from Southampton, Winchester and beyond for browses that stretch hours. Wills built a rep on sharp picks and easy chats about tunes, turning one-off visits into regulars who linger over sleeves.

Come autumn 2024, he stepped back after retirement, but the shutters stayed up thanks to Foyle, a 55-year-old Hedge End local with eight years as a customer. No retail background – he spent 16 years in catering – but the pull proved stronger than any resume. “I didn’t want to see the place shut,” he says, and neither did the queue of fans who nudged him in. Eight weeks in, he’s restocked Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours three times over, proof the demand hums on.

Foyle spots kids grabbing classics early, not just the latest pop cycles, which suits his lifelong ear for sounds. The shop ties into bigger beats too, joining Record Store Day lineups and eyeing live sessions plus other gigs come the new year.

It’s that mix of steady stock and forward push that cements its spot on The Hundred, a street already buzzing with independents. Drop in for a sleeve flip or a deep dive on reissues; the air carries stories from every corner of the racks.

Punters rave about the “Aladdin’s cave” feel, with endless vinyl for collectors and solid CD hauls too. Mark’s knowledge earned nods as “renowned,” and Matt’s takeover gets cheers for keeping the friendly flow alive – one Salisbury regular calls it “always friendly.”

Facebook tallies 100% recommendations from 19 notes, hailing it a “wonderful establishment” worth every support penny, though a lone grumble flags spotty service once. Overall, it’s dependable for chats and finds that hook you back.