THEY’VE been spinning and selling discs for more than a decade – and now an independent shop has been named the best in the country.

Resident in Brighton scooped the Music Week national award for Best Independent Music Retailer after being shortlisted for the fifth year in a row.

The store, run by husband-and-wife co-founders Derry Watkins and Natasha Youngs, celebrated a decade in business last year.

The latest award is the couple’s third in their time as owners of the Kensington Gardens outlet.

Mrs Youngs told The Argus: “It feels like one heck of an achievement.

“I still think about the day we first opened our door, terrified that no one would buy anything and that we'd completely misjudged the potential for our vision but here we are, 11 years on, and to be given the industry award to recognise what we do here feels very special indeed.”

The duo were up against tough competition from Banquet in Kingston, Sister Ray in London, Avalanche in Edinburgh and Drift in Totnes.

Mrs Youngs added: “The music really matters to us. The customers really matter to us. The artists really matter to us. It's kind of nice to know that we matter too, I guess.

“It’s a great example of how Brighton embraces, nurtures, promotes and looks after businesses it cares about and helps them to achieve. Our success is very much down to being in such a brilliantly vibrant and cultured city.”

The accolade comes ahead of Record Store Day tomorrow, which celebrates the work of independent stores by capitalising on a revival in vinyl records.

Participating shops can choose from a catalogue of 541 limited vinyl releases to boost their sales.

Among the bands being released are The Leisure Society, The Maccabees, Metronomy, The Go! Team and The Wedding Present, all with Brighton connections.

Last week, the Entertainment Retailers Association announced that more than 40 new shops opened in UK high streets over the past five years, with sales of vinyl records up almost 800% over the same period.