Growing guitar business tunes up for Flemingate move

An independent guitar shop selling some of the world’s most revered musical brands is moving to Beverley’s thriving Flemingate centre as its business continues to grow.

Guitar Galleries opened in the town’s Wednesday Market in September 2016 following great success at its Scarborough base, which was established in 2010.

Selling quality guitars, amplifiers and accessories from world-leading brands including Fender, Taylor, CF Martin, PJD, Rickenbacker, Duesenberg, Eastman, Orange and Boss, the family-run business supports musicians in store, as well as selling globally online.

Now, Guitar Galleries Managing Director Matt Dunn is preparing to move the Beverley store to Flemingate where it will benefit from additional space to expand its offer to customers over two floors.

Matt, a guitarist who still performs regularly, said: “This is a really exciting time for the business. We are looking to expand and we want to offer more brands.

“To do that, we need a contemporary unit and space to present guitars properly, so people can walk in and play everything they aspire to own.

“We need somewhere that is not only impressive to look at but also functions how we want it to. There is so much more we need to display and, in the new unit, we can present and stock the guitars in the right climate, humidity and environment.

“Over the last three years, Beverley has become considerably busier, especially Flemingate, which offers really good dining experiences and shops. There’s a good mix of independent businesses and high street brands, and it’s easily accessible with great parking.

“We’re moving to a great-looking unit with enough space to offer even more to the community, such as guitar lessons.”

Guitar Galleries provides guitars and instruments to beginners and professionals alike, with prices ranging from £100 upwards. 

The business also buys guitars from its customers, offers trade-in deals against new guitars and offers credit facilities with 0% finance on purchases.

Guitar Galleries’ eight-strong team across the Beverley and Scarborough sites has 150 years of combined experience in the music industry and Matt said customer experience and care is at the heart of the business.

He said: “We want people to come in, have a look around, sit down and find the guitar that’s right for them.

“We only sell products that we would pay to own ourselves and we don’t sell anything of low quality for the sake of hitting a price point.   

“We make it as easy as possible for our customers to shop with us and we feel really blessed that people in the local community in Beverley have been so supportive from day one.

“They are incredibly musical and they took to us straight away, so we enjoy a lot of repeat business.

“In an age when you can shop online, people still really enjoy coming into the store and spending their money locally with us.”

Guitar Galleries is moving into a two-storey, 3,100 sq ft unit at Flemingate currently occupied by fashion store VERB.

VERB owner Lee Wardell has also been managing a new Brook Taverner menswear store, which opened recently in nearby Toll Gavel.

Lee said: “Brook Taverner’s launch has been a big success and I feel I really need to focus on developing that business. I was aware that there was another retailer keen on moving to Flemingate, so it makes sense to focus my energies on Brook Taverner and free up a unit for Guitar Galleries to be able to expand.

“I’ve really enjoyed building up the VERB business and being part of the Flemingate family over the past two years. I’m pleased another local business is joining the centre in our place.”

Graham Tait, Flemingate Centre Manager, said: “We’re delighted Guitar Galleries has chosen to relocate to Flemingate in order to expand and offer a growing product range to customers. It’s good news that Matt is able to build his business while moving just a stone’s throw from his current store.

“The move keeps a distinctive, high-quality retailer in Beverley and maintains the healthy mix at Flemingate of national high street brands and local independent retailers. We’re really looking forward to Guitar Galleries opening and adding another exciting element to Flemingate’s appeal.”

Guitar Galleries will close its Wednesday Market shop on August 30 before the new Flemingate store opens to the public the next day. VERB will close at the end of June, to allow time for the unit to be refitted for Guitar Galleries.

Developed and owned and developed by regeneration company Wykeland Group, Flemingate is Beverley’s largest-ever regeneration scheme. The centre features big-name retail and leisure brands and local independents, as well as being home to the East Riding College campus, an 80-bed Premier Inn hotel and a six-screen digital cinema, Parkway.

Flemingate has extended and enhanced Beverley town centre and played a key role in making the town the booming retail, leisure and visitor destination it is today. Since Flemingate opened less than three years ago, big brands such as Jack Wills, Jo Malone, Hotel Chocolat, Mint Velvet, The White Company and Space NK have all moved into Beverley.