Carnies

Since opening our record shop in the beautiful Malvern Hills in 2012, we have been blessed to be at the heart of a community of music lovers.

Great Malvern is steeped in musical heritage – from Sir Edward Elgar and Jenny Lind to the halcyon days of the Winter Gardens and Cherry Red Records – and we exist in the same inclusive and independent-minded spirit as that of our record-loving, concert-going predecessors.

Over the best part of a decade Carnival has been the scene of some memorable gigs and mini-festivals (including several blistering Record Store Day events), while the energy and good humour of our loyal customers has created a spirited community that we are proud to be a part of.

We’ve met some of the best people ever through our shop, and this is where we celebrate your musical tastes and recommendations, your opinions and observations, and the colourful characters and vibrant personalities that give Carnival its fantastic atmosphere.

In 2014 The Guardian named us among the Top 10 Record Shops in the World, and in 2025 we received a similar commendation from the Financial Times, who called us ‘a great symbol of UK record shops’.

Record Store Day 2021: Seven-year-old Barnaby Thomas choosing vinyl with his dad, Steve