Digging the scene
Music lovers the world over recognise Honest Jon’s record store and music label for its ability to champion sounds you won’t hear elsewhere.
Honest Jon’s
Find Honest Jon's
Coal Drops Yard
London N1C 4LW
For more information and opening times
Established in 1974 on London’s Portobello Road, the vibrant Coal Drops Yard venue sells a specially curated selection of vinyl, CDs and books, including releases from Honest Jon’s eponymous label. Look out for free events featuring the friends, family and community of Honest Jon’s.
Reasons to love Honest Jon’s
Excellent tunes and a great atmosphere: At Honest Jon’s they are experts creating a vibe. Head down to one of their DJ nights, workshops and live performances and soak it all up.
It is like stepping into a piece of history: Honest Jon’s has been around since 1974 and is an important piece within the London music scene.
There is a lot to choose from: Expect a wide variety of music on offer. Be inspired and try something new. A considerable section of the Coal Drops Yard shop is also dedicated to second-hand vinyl, as well as stocking super-hard-to-find records, books and specialist magazines.
What to expect from the Coal Drops Yard store
It is a truly independent undertaking driven by a passionate commitment to their cause. The boom in vinyl records has been a boon to traditional record shops.
Honest Jon’s has been a leading light in London’s musical subcultures from rare groove, funk, soul, club jazz and – after a young James Lavelle started working behind the counter, peddling a new form of jazz-influenced hip hop that led to his own label, Mo Wax –trip-hop.
This is more than just a shop. Honest Jon’s is also a record label, owned by Mark Ainley and Alan Scholefield (who took over from one of the original owners, ‘Honest’ Jon Clare) in 2002. Another well-known local, Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz and the rest) is also part of the creative partnership behind the brand’s renowned record label. To say the brand has a knack for operating ahead of the curve is a bit of an understatement.
