“I’ve lived in Islington my whole life. It’s a borough with a rich musical history that doesn’t get talked about enough,” says DJ-promoter Rod “Spin Doctor” Gilmore. “I want One Eighty One to continue that legacy in a venue that’s firmly rooted in the local community.”
One Eighty One is a neighbourhood bar and record shop located at 181 Holloway Road – not far, as Gilmore points out, from the Hope & Anchor pub, which became a punk hub in the ’70s, hosting gigs by U2, the Police and the Jam.
Gilmore’s vision was to create a space where everyone feels welcome, not just crate-digging vinyl disciples. With bespoke wood panelling that matches the venue’s retro frontage, One Eighty One feels like a mid-century living room – one with vinyl racks on the side of the room and a bar at the back. Gilmore and his team serve coffee, craft beer and cocktails (the latter priced at £10 each) while also dishing up cheese and charcuterie boards, and “crisp platters” with toppings like cheese and cured meat. He points out proudly that One Eighty One’s bread and cheese are sourced from independent stores “a few doors down from us”.
Gilmore began collecting records as a kid and later parlayed his passion for music into a prolific career as a club DJ and promoter. Recently, he also put in stints as the events programmer at Camden’s Jazz Cafe and Brick Lane’s Truman Brewery. Now, he’s pouring this multifaceted experience into creating the “record shop and bar with good vibes” that he’s dreamed of running since he was a teenager. “I remember feeling intimidated when I used to walk into record shops – especially the old-school Soho dance shops, where everything was on white label and you couldn’t tell what anything was,” he says. “So I’ve really thought hard about how to make this place as welcoming and people-friendly as possible.” Collectors can rummage through the racks for hidden treasures, while the uninitiated can browse casually without being made to feel ignorant: every record has a QR code sticker so you can scan and listen on Spotify before you buy.
Come evening, the wooden record racks are covered to form another drinks counter and the stools can be cleared away for dancing. On Friday and Saturday nights, Gilmore books trusted DJs from his years on the London club scene. “Since we opened our doors in November, we’ve had some incredible nights where everyone’s dancing already and then a whole new crowd of people walk in and really crank up the energy,” he says. “Seeing this place buzzing with music and people makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
One Eighty One
181 Holloway Road, N7 8LX
Hours:
Tue 10am–6pm
Wed to Sun 10am–11.30pm
