​Bristol record store Idle Hands to reopen two years after being shuttered

Beloved Bristol record store Idle Hands is set to reopen this week more than two years after it was shuttered due to financial strain.

The shop and record label announced its reopening earlier today on Instagram, explaining that Idle Hands will relocate to a new space in central Bristol after spending 11 years on City Road.

“We are back,” said owner Chris Farrell. “A couple of weeks ago, I picked up the keys to a shop centrally located in Bristol,” he added.

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Idle Hands will reopen on Wednesday, November 20, followed by a launch party at The Red Church on Friday, November 29, featuring Marion Hawkes from Sound Advice in Belfast and Chris Farrell himself B2B with Milly On Air.

“Although it was never my intention to be closed for two years, after some false starts and dead ends, Idle Hands is finally re-opening this Wednesday.”

In August 2022, Idle Hands announced that it was closing up shop on City Road, chalking it up to issues related to Brexit and the pandemic.

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Farrell explained that while times were “tricky”, he believed the store and label still had “a future that involves a more centrally located premises, a refresh and a new strategy to make the business more sustainable”.

Shortly after the announcement, Idle Hands launched a fundraiser to help with rent costs and ongoing payments before the store closed.

The store thanked fans and locals for their support after raising more than £12,000 to secure its future in a new location. “It's just heart-warming to see that we have a level of support like that,” Farrell told the BBC.

Read the full statement from Idle Hands below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter