Ram Jam Records

Walk into Ram Jam on Richmond Road and you'll immediately get it—this isn't some ironic vintage setup, it's a proper bar run by people who genuinely care about music. The walls are lined with vinyl, the soundtrack shifts from soul to funk to whatever the staff fancies that evening, and there's a real sense that you've stumbled into somewhere locals have quietly been protecting. Order a cocktail (they're thoughtful, not showy) and settle in among a mix of record collectors, curious drinkers from town, and the occasional person who wandered in because they heard good things. It's the kind of place where the vibe shifts depending on who's behind the bar and what's on the turntable, but it's always purposeful. Richmond Road doesn't get enough credit for its independent spots, and Ram Jam proves why you should be exploring beyond the town centre.