South London's Rat Records set to close down

Record store in Camberwell, London, Rat Records has announced that it will be closing down this summer.

Opened in 1999 by Tom Fisher, the store owns a range of second-hand records with an expertise in the genres of reggae, funk, soul and punk.

The store is set to close when its lease runs out on June 18.

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In a statement, the record shop said: "It is with regret that we need to tell you that the Rat Records shop will close in the third week of June," reads a post on the Rat Records' website. "The current lease is expiring. We will be buying & selling as normal until then. After June, Tom will continue buying as normal and will sell online and direct to the trade."

"We would like the shop to continue, so if you are interested in purchasing the business name, assets etc, please contact Tom: [email protected]"

Fisher started Rat Records in 1988, selling vinyl albums on a street market in Oxford.

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In 1993 I the first of a series of 4 Rat Records shops opened in Greenwich, London.

In 1999 Rat Records then relocated to the current CD and record shop in Camberwell.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter