IT’S the biggest music store you’ve never heard of – and it’s right here in Huddersfield.

Hidden away in a converted Victorian building in Linthwaite is Vinyl Tap, which is arguably Britain’s largest vinyl records dealer.

Every month the business, founded 26 years ago by Huddersfield-based record collector Tony Boothroyd, buys and sells thousands of records in countries around the world.

Vinyl Tap, which trades through 20 websites in the UK, USA, Australia and Europe, is a regular haunt for online collectors searching for rare records.

And while Vinyl Tap had existed solely as an online store since 1999, the business has re-opened a walk-in shop, this time on John William Street.

Vinyl Tap, which has had stores in Halifax and Leeds, took over from Wall of Sound in the New Year, making it the last independent high street record shop in Huddersfield.

While Vinyl Tap has enjoyed a huge presence online it’s had virtually no local profile.

So when Tony heard Wall of Sound was for sale he leapt at the chance to buy it, despite the economic downturn.

He says: “It might seem foolish reading all you do about the high street but it’s more to do with having a presence and to show people that we actually do exist.

“People had been travelling long distances to come to us and we couldn’t have them walking around the distribution centre.”

Even musicians and record companies contact Vinyl Tap for copies of their own records.

Tony says: “We’ve sold records to artists who’ve lost their own records. We’ve even provided big labels with the original artwork for a reissue or a compilation. You’d be surprised how big labels have lost their archives.”

While high street music shops – even the mighty HMV – are struggling for survival, Tony believes walk-in record stores can survive.

Tony says: “The public are very much in favour of independent shops and I thought it could be good for our image.

“Bands that never released vinyl records have started doing it again, even Coldplay and Radiohead. It’s a niche market.”

Indeed while record companies fight to shift CDs and downloads, the vinyl industry is in the midst of revival. LPs, 7-in and 12-in singles have always been popular among collectors but the market is widening.

So what is the appeal of vinyl over cheaper and more convenient formats?

Tony says: “Some people want the first pressing of a record, even if a reissue is cheaply available. It’s a piece of history.

“If you’ve a decent hi-fi the sound is much better. I have an iPod and it’s fine but to sit down and listen to a record on vinyl is a different experience.

“The prices of rare stuff are going through the roof, even in a recession. People probably see it as an investment.”

Vinyl Tap took a record amount for a seven-inch UK picture sleeve version of the punk band XTC’s Science Friction.

Tony says: “Apparently the band weren’t happy with it so it was withdrawn from sale. In 2009, we sold it for £4,500 to a Japanese guy. The 12-inch version is very common, but the seven-inch version with a picture sleeve is incredibly rare.”

www.vinyltap.co.uk