Vinyl Revival and the Shops that Made it Happen

 Vinyl Van Brewery Square, 8a Pope St, Dorchester DT1 1GW Tel 01305 459494 https://vinylvan.co.uk   If ever a shop has blown me away at first sight, then it is the ‘Vinyl Van’.   Superbly located in Brewery Square (opposite the Premier Inn, near Dorchester South Train Station) the first thing you see when you enter the shop is the counter made from a VW Camper van (How cool is that) hand-built by co-owner Mark Smith in his garage.   A charming couple Mark and Helen own the shop and started the Vinyl Van in 2019 selling new and preloved vinyl from their VW Campervan at local festivals, events, and markets.   Most of the original vinyl they sold was from Mark’s own vast collection. It was quite apt that the first record they sold was ‘VAN Morrison’s -Too Long in Exile’       Selling from a VW Campervan was great fun except when it was raining but the couple had a taste for retailing.   One of the nice things about doing this job and writing books is so many shops tell