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After almost 40 years in business, Nervous Records has long been one of Hinckley’s most beloved indie shops.

Tucked away in The Lawns, music lovers from across the area have flocked to the store since it opened in January 1978 - and now The Guardian has named it as one of its best record shops in the country.

Earlier this week, the national newspaper named Nervous Records as one of its best 11 indie stores, as picked by the experts.

Run by music enthusiast Gordon Hayes, it joined stores in London and Leeds on the list, with the experts praising its “goldmine of rarities” and “well-thumbed must-haves”.

Expert Marc Burrows said of the shop: “It’s a tiny treasure trove of secondhand vinyl that has been a hidden local fixture since the 1970s.

“How it survived the lean years of digital dominance, to capitalise on the vinyl revival, is a mystery but, good grief, I’m glad it did.

“Nervous is a goldmine of proper rarities amid racks and racks of well-thumbed must-haves, curated by a man who’s dedicated 40 years of his life to enriching turntables in a misbegotten corner of the world.”

Gordon said that he was shocked to have been listed in The Guardian’s feature, saying: “It was a bit of news, that’s for sure.

“It’s good news obviously, but I was a bit surprised. This is a smallish, one-man business and we’re a bit rough and ready!”

Earlier this year, Gordon told The Hinckley Times that he had seen a resurgence in business in recent years, particularly among record-loving teenagers.

The self-proclaimed music lover - he calls his business a “glorified hobby”, even choosing to live next door to his shop - said: “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some hard years. It was tough during the 1990s and early noughties, and we struggled for quite a long time.

“However, in the last few years, vinyl has really made a comeback and it’s completely turned on its head.

“The last three years have been the best that we’ve ever had. People want to buy vinyl as it sounds so different to a CD or a download - it’s a warmer sound.

“I thought that teens were big downloaders, but lots of them have gone for this in a big way - it’s definitely making a comeback.”

For information on Nervous Records, visit the shop, call Hinckley 612428, or visit their Facebook page by searching Nervous Records Hinckley.