Who We Are
Moonface Records is a proudly independent, self-funded record shop based in Bedford, UK.
Founded in 2022 and incorporated in 2023, we've grown from a small record fair stall into a thriving shopping centre record store, built entirely through our passion for music and the support of our customers.
We specialise in both brand-new sealed releases and carefully selected pre-owned vinyl and CDs, offering fair, competitive prices across every genre. Whether you're buying your very first record or adding to an ever-growing collection, we're here to make discovering physical music exciting, welcoming and accessible.
While we have huge respect for traditional record shops, we've chosen a different path. We aren't trying to be the destination for the rarest pressings or the most hardcore collectors. Instead, we're focused on the future-helping a new generation fall in love with vinyl and CDs, creating a friendly, judgement-free environment where everyone feels comfortable exploring music at their own pace.
Because we believe the future of record shops isn't just about preserving the past—it's about inspiring the next generation of music lovers.
The Beginning...
Moonface Records was founded by a lifelong music fan whose love of physical music began at an early age. Growing up in the CD era, with parents who introduced him to vinyl, music was always more than something to listen to—it was something to own, collect and treasure. In fact, his very first pay packet from a paper round was spent entirely on buying CDs.
Before launching Moonface Records, he spent more than a decade working alongside founders and fast-growing businesses, helping bring new products and services to market. That experience provided the foundations for building a business of his own.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he rediscovered the joy of collecting vinyl. What started as a personal hobby quickly became a fascination with the wider record industry and the idea of making physical music more accessible to everyone. In 2022, Moonface Records made its debut at a record fair in Rayleigh, Essex, with just six crates from his own collection.
Today, those six crates have grown into thousands of records and CDs, but the original mission remains unchanged: to help more people discover, collect and enjoy physical music for generations to come.
Finding Our Place
When Moonface Records began in 2022, the focus was simple: learn the trade. Starting with pre-owned vinyl, our founder spent countless hours buying collections, valuing records and building knowledge of the industry from the ground up.
As we travelled to record fairs across the country, one trend became impossible to ignore. More and more younger and casual music fans were visiting, eager to start collecting, but many left empty-handed. They weren't searching for rare first pressings—they wanted modern artists, current releases and albums they already loved. Too often, there simply wasn't enough choice.
Recognising that gap, Moonface Records began introducing brand-new, sealed vinyl and CDs alongside carefully selected pre-owned stock. The response was immediate. The combination complemented the traditional record fair scene, bringing in new collectors while offering existing visitors an even broader selection of music.
As demand grew, so did Moonface Records. What began in Essex soon expanded across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Kent, taking the same philosophy to record fairs throughout the region.
Today, that original vision remains unchanged: make physical music more accessible, welcome the next generation of collectors, and ensure everyone—whether they're buying their first record or their hundredth—can find something they love.
Finding Independence
Record fairs proved there was demand for Moonface Records—but they also raised an important question: what would happen if customers could find us every week?
To answer it, we began trading on street markets, first in Rayleigh before expanding into Milton Keynes and, eventually, Bedford. It marked a turning point for the business. Instead of seeing customers a handful of times each year, we started building relationships with people who returned week after week.
Those conversations shaped Moonface Records. Customers asked us to source specific artists, albums and genres, helping us understand what people genuinely wanted to buy rather than what we thought they wanted. Every week became an opportunity to learn, adapt and improve.
Market trading wasn't always easy. Rain, wind, freezing winters, summer heatwaves and the challenges of operating a mobile business all became part of everyday life. But those experiences helped shape the resilience of the business and proved that our model worked beyond the record fair circuit.
Over time, Bedford Charter Market became our home, with regular appearances in Milton Keynes and a carefully selected calendar of record fairs. By then, Moonface Records had found its identity—not simply as a record fair trader, but as an independent music retailer built around accessibility, fair prices and genuine customer service.
Shop launch
After almost two years of trading at markets and record fairs, Moonface Records had reached the point where opening a permanent shop became possible. Every stage of the business had been funded through trading, with profits continually reinvested into stock, equipment and growth.
Following a successful period of market trading, we were finally ready to achieve the dream that had existed since day one: opening our own record shop.
Planning began in October 2025, and in June 2026 Moonface Records opened its doors in Bedford's Harpur Centre.
The shop has been designed with everyone in mind. Whether you're buying your very first vinyl record, replacing a favourite CD from your childhood or adding another album to an ever-growing collection, we want browsing for music to feel welcoming, relaxed and enjoyable.
Since opening, we've grown from a one-person operation into a small team, creating local employment while continuing to expand our range of new releases, pre-owned vinyl, CDs and cassettes.
Although we've come a long way, we still believe this is only the beginning. We're constantly listening, learning and improving, with every decision guided by the people who walk through our doors.
We're Still Growing
Every shelf, every new range, every member of staff and every improvement you see has been made possible because people chose to shop with us.
Unlike national retailers, we don't have decades of infrastructure or the buying power of a large chain. Every record we add, every artist we expand and every improvement we make is funded by the business itself.
That means our shop will continue to evolve over time. Your feedback, your recommendations and your support genuinely shape what Moonface Records becomes.
You're not just shopping with an independent record store—you're helping build one.
Thank you for being part of our story. Your support has helped turn a handful of record crates into an independent record shop, and we're excited to see where the next chapter takes us.
