John Lewis to start selling vinyl records this month – and it has pretty great taste

A woman flicking through stacks of vinyl records in a Rough Trade shop.
(Image credit: Rough Trade)

Fancy a classic jazz album with your next wardrobe? How about some post-punk with your garden furniture, or vintage grunge to go with that new dressing gown? This could be your next shopping trip, as John Lewis is going to start selling vinyl this month.

The retailer has announced a partnership with industry stalwart Rough Trade to sell vinyl records both in its department stores and online.

Its initial selection is pretty great, a nice mix of old and new. It includes Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, Romance by Fontaines D.C., Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You by Big Thief, Nirvana's Nevermind and A Love Supreme by John Coltrane. The selection pays homage to Rough Trade's past.

John Lewis says that sales of its turntables have risen 17 per cent compared to five years ago, so clearly the middle classes aren't immune to the vinyl revival. The retailer has increased its range of record players by 46 per cent in that time – it currently stocks the Pro-Ject T1 and the five-star Technics SL-1500C, among others.

John Lewis hasn't said how many of its department stores will stock vinyl, but among them will be Peter Jones, Bluewater, Cheadle and Edinburgh.

The retailer follows WH Smith, which announced in October that it would start selling vinyl again more than 30 years after abandoning the format.

MORE:

Check out the best record players

Pick up a bargain with the best record player deals

Record players are getting better, it just isn't obvious

Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 20 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine (now defunct), Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more. His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.

Read more
Technics turntable with Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge on wooden console with records in background
The best turntable deals 2025: lowest prices on great record players
Mixx Revival 65 Turntable
Mixx’s Revival 65 turntable blends vintage charm with modern connectivity
Spotify screenshot banner image
UK music sales hit a 20-year high in 2024 as streaming dominates
Record Store Day logo banner image
Record Store Day date confirmed! RSD 2025 returns this April to support UK indie record stores
Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4000c
Bang & Olufsen has given its iconic Beogram 4000 Series turntable a stylish rebirth – but good luck getting one!
Technics SL-1300G turntable
Not one but two turntables have burst onto our buying guide this month
Latest in Vinyl
A woman flicking through stacks of vinyl records in a Rough Trade shop.
John Lewis to start selling vinyl records this month – and it has pretty great taste
Record Store Day logo banner image
Record Store Day date confirmed! RSD 2025 returns this April to support UK indie record stores
Gant All Night Long vinyl cover in front of records
How to spot fake records: 10 tips to avoiding counterfeit vinyl
Vinyl Moon
I tested 3 vinyl record cleaning systems – and the results were both revelatory and depressing
Shelves full of vinyl records.
The vinyl revival continues! WH Smith stores will start selling records again
A black and white photo of all four members of The Beatles jumping in air
Record Store Day Black Friday returns 29th November
Latest in News
The 48-inch Panasonic MZ800 OLED TV pictured against a white background
A Panasonic OLED TV for under £500? No, I'm not kidding!
The Ando Ando Ando Vinyl Record Watch with a brown leather strap being held in the hand.
Oh, this old thing? It's just a watch inspired by the Technics SL-1200 record player
Surround sound budget AV system
Sony launches its first new 4K Blu-ray player in over five years – and it's good and bad news
France's Gael Fickou practices on the eve of the Six Nations rugby union tournament match between France and Scotland.
France vs Scotland live stream: how to watch Six Nations 2025 match online
Apple Music Classical
Apple Music Classical lands on the web – but there's bad news for Mac users
Bone conduction headphones
Samsung to launch its first bone conduction headphones this summer, report says