Martin at Imageacoustic is a very professional and polite photographer who makes you feel at ease…read morestraight away and nothing too much trouble. The standard of the work is fantastic and although he`s based in Morecambe and I`m in Chorley, it couldn`t have been easier to meet up and create my portfolio. Highly recommended.

In these days of big companies like HMV and Zavvi (or whatever it's called these days) dominating…read morethe music retail business, as well as the rise of downloading music (whether legal or illegal), it's easy to forget the charm of independent local music shops like Quicksilver Music. Hidden down Market Street, Quicksilver is a small but appealing shop that sells a modest but varied selection of CDs and vinyl, both of which are split quite helpfully and comprehensively into different genres and artists. You do still have to search through them a bit for a few hidden gems, but that's all part of the fun. As well as selling music, Quicksilver also sells a small selection of electric, acoustic and bass guitars as well as a few amps. None of them are particularly expensive models (most are at the cheaper end of the spectrum) but some models there have been discontinued so would be considered quite rare. The selection may be quite small but there is quite a variation and if you're looking for a more original choice for a basic guitar then there are some bargains on offer there. Quicksilver Music might not be for more commercial music fans but if small independent music stores with a bit of character appeal to you, then it's definitely a place to check out and support.

DJ Shadow would have a field day in X-Records…read more From the outside it looks like your average, old skool music store. Walk down to the basement however, and you're greeted with the sight of thousands of 7" singles, 12" EPs and 33" albums stacked floor to ceiling on weight-bearing shelves. Look around and you'll notice there's thousands more records housed in boxes and crates all around you. Some of them are clearly marked Hip Hop, Reggae, Northern Soul and so on, others are simply marked Sale and have reduced stickers on them. Gloriously, X-Records sells a combination of new and secondhand vinyl, making it a bit of a one-stop destination for collectors and deejays. Naturally, there's some records that were destined for landfill but dig carefully and you'll find plenty of gems from Patti Smith and Television to Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and Can. Prices are low, most of the stock is in great condition and there's lots of deleted and obscure titles in-between popular albums. As for the kind of music they stock, X-Records sells everything from prog-rock, punk, indie and heavy metal to country, folk, blues, hip hop, rap and ska to free jazz. DJ Shadow's score to Dark Days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgWn9ZdyiAE

X Records is a real forgotten gem of a record shop which should certainly be on the radar of anyone…read morehalf serious about their records. Basically, as no-one ever remembers this place exists outside of Bolton, you can find loads of ace deleted stock, usually at knock-down prices because the owner doesn't have a clue what he's doing. That means stock that is not available anywhere else, not marked up as a 'rarity'. There's a decent array of styles and genres, with modern releases nestled up against an extensive metal and hard rock selection. There's also a load of decent reissues on the shelves. Tucked away in the back is a dedicated dance area where you'll find shaven headed lads nodding furiously along to kiddiecore donk or whatever they're listening to that given week. Thanks to some changes in staff (be it that they left to pastures new or were 'let go'), X Records has sadly lost its way slightly and these days, it seems to be afloat thanks to Kiss memorabilia rather than selling records to enthusiastic teenagers. That's a shame as this is a shop that has done wonders in shaping me and my musical tastes over the years.

The best vinyl record buyers in Blackpool. I have sold to Chris on a number of occasions now,…read morealways impressed by his professional approach and vinyl record knowledge. Also the prices quotes are far more far than the other dealers that I've tried in the area. I will be back in touch when I'm ready to sell some more of my vinyl. Thanks a million.

Very impressed with the service. I spoke to Chris regarding my late fathers record collection. He…read morewas very knowledgeable and gave me a general idea of value, he travelled quite some distance and true to his word he gave me the price we discussed. Contact this company with confidence.