Records, Comics and Japanese Toys on Trinity Street

If you like flicking through record crates, Wow and Flutter on Trinity Street is worth a look. It is an independent shop that combines a record shop, a comic book shop and an art store under one roof. You will find it in America Ground at 8 Trinity Street, Hastings, TN34 1HG. The name comes from a Stereolab song of the same title, which the owners, Tim and Susan, love. They set up the shop in 2014.

The shelves hold secondhand records, CDs and tapes, along with vintage and old-school comics, books and contemporary graphic art. The stock also includes cool Japanese toys. One review describes the shop as an outpost of cool Japan in Hastings, and the owners travel to Japan for inspiration. New stock arrives every week, so there is usually something new to look at on each visit. The shop does not offer mail order, but the team can help you post your purchases.

The atmosphere is relaxed. The shop has a retro turntable set-up and retro seats where you can sit and listen to records. Reviews on Google Maps give it 4.8 out of 5 from 180 ratings, and describe it as a warm place for conversations about music, with a laid-back and welcoming feel. You can also get a coffee from Sham City Roasters, a cup of Teapigs tea or a cold drink. The shop holds occasional in-store events and exhibitions, and it sells tickets for local gigs.

The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00, and on Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Mondays. Today is Friday, so it is open until 17:00 this afternoon. You can call them on 01424 439859, email info@wowandflutterhastings.com, or find them on Instagram at @wowandflutter. The shop was also picked by The Guardian as one of the ten best record shops in the UK in a feature published on 28 October 2015. More recently, it appeared in the gethastings.com feature '7 Magnificent Shops', which lists seven independent shops in Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill for Christmas shopping.