Tilbury Gig, 123 St James's Street

Formerly the Tilbury Gig, 123 St James's Street, Brighton
Photo by Debbie Lias

Not a shop I visited very frequently although I recall walking past it often enough. Simply put, they didn’t sell much soul music, although I believe others will recall it much more fondly.

Comments about this page

  • I remember clearly being very excited about handing over my 50p pocket money and asking my Mum who worked at a solicitors in the Old Steine to get me the latest single from Tilbury Gig during her lunch time.

    By Jane Emery (16/11/2008)
  • Used to hang about in this shop at the beginning of the 80s. Used to be run by a lady who had incredibly long, bent finger nails. Then some boring bloke took it over, and probably sold nothing, hence closing down end of the 80s.

    By Darren Stuart (04/12/2008)
  • Man this place was the business. Tilbury Gig. Up the road at Woolies (RIP) you could get your Donny Osmonds and your David Cassidys. At Tilbury Gig you could get your real prog rock. King Crimson, Led Zep, Wishbone Ash. Yet you could still buy your sister the latest Bay City Rollers single for her birthday. I hope they made fortunes and retired to the sun.

    By Paul Hubbard (19/03/2009)
  • Yes, I agree with Paul Hubbard, it was in the heyday of the independant record shop. I used Tilbury Gig in the late 70s to pre-order obscure 45s which they were always happy to trace, unlike chain stores. I remember the (or a) bloke behind the counter but not the woman, this would be c.1976-7.

    By Paul Martin (07/05/2009)
  • This was owned and run by Steve Tilbury-Warden who hubby house-shared with before we got married – it opened in the early ’70s. Haven’t heard from Steve for many years – he came to our wedding and we’re just coming up to our 40th anniversary, so it was quite a while ago and we’ve lived in Australia for over 23 years!

    By Helen Holmes (11/01/2013)
  • From September 1978 a gang of us Brighton Tec students used to religiously go around as many record shops in Brighton as possible, especially on a Monday as it was new releases day! We did however visit Tilbury Gig during our jaunts but let’s say that it was not high on our list!

    By Nick Linazasoro (12/05/2013)
  • Just to add my two-penn’th worth on this. I worked on Saturdays at Tilbury Gig from around 79 to 81 when I was DJ’ing in Brighton. The chap who owned it was Peter Sellars. I remember very clearly the day that John Lennon died because Peter called me in a panic to get down there quick because the shop was flooded with people buying up Lennon music! Singles then were 90p – I remember this because I had a habit of ringing up £90 every now and then 🙂

    By Andrew Peters (02/11/2014)
  • My uncle, Steve Tilbury-Warden, opened this shop in 1972/3 and I was his Saturday girl from 1973 – 1975. I was so cool and lucky to work in a record shop! We would always try to get what people wanted even if it took a lot of searching and I owe so much of my music knowledge to those times. Steve sold the shop in the late 70’s and went on to run a bookshop in Portslade before retiring. Steve sadly died in 2016 but I would love to hear from any of you who remember him.

    By Stella Jackson (24/06/2022)
  • I remember frequenting the store in the 70s ,I remember Steve telling me off for talking to the girl that worked there.
    If my memory serves well, I remember taking a train ride to Haywards Heath to see her home.

    By Paul Harman (26/01/2023)

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