Posted by
Vida Ragbir
Ben’s Collectors Records in Tunsgate is marking an impressive milestone this year, celebrating 32 years of trading at 5 Tunsgate — a remarkable achievement in a retail landscape that has changed dramatically over the decades. Owner Ben Darnton reflects on the journey with pride.
When he first opened the doors, the goal was simple — “to keep the shop going for as long as possible.” Three decades later, he’s still here. Ben has witnessed every phase of music collection trends. “I’ve seen customers give up on vinyl and cassettes in favour of CDs, then downloading… and now they’re back to vinyl!” he says. Keeping things fair has always been core to how he operates. “I’ve always kept my prices as low as possible to keep customers on their toes, although I’ve had to increase what I pay for quality record collections.” That honest approach — paired with Ben’s famously cheerful demeanour — has helped maintain loyal customers year after year.
There have been challenges along the way. Surviving the Tunsgate regeneration works was tough — construction and retail aren’t always a good mix. And then came lockdown, which Ben managed to navigate “without going bankrupt.”
He credits the town for helping him get through. “I am very grateful to the Guildford community for keeping me going all these years,” he says. Ben has now worked 41 years in Guildford — 32 of them at his current address — and many customers have become personal friends. “Most of my customers are friends now, so they already know about my family and I. I’d like to thank my customers for their friendship and support over the years.”
To survive as an independent business for this long is a genuine accomplishment — and Ben’s Collectors Records remains a true Guildford gem, powered by passion, resilience, and a community that loves music just as much as he does.
Happy 32nd Birthday!