Brighton & Hove has no shortage of creativity, but every so often a new independent opens that instantly feels like it’s always been part of the landscape. Capsule Records is one of those places, it's a calm, beautifully considered space that manages to be a record shop, coffee spot and community hub all at once.
We’ve admired Capsule since the moment they opened in 2023. The shop has a pull to it: the warmth of the staff, the richness of the music being played, the way the space invites you to slow down and explore. It’s the kind of place you wander into for a quick browse and end up staying far longer than planned. Good shops do that, whether they sell records or clothing.
That shared belief in careful curation is what made Capsule such a natural choice for the next Friends of Peggs feature. Just as we obsess over the details behind every piece we bring into the store, Capsule apply that same intention to the albums they stock, the sound system they play them on, and the environment they’ve created for people to discover something new.
With their recent expansion into a newly renovated basement space (a dedicated hi-fi and listening room designed for deep listening, turntable demos and intimate events), this felt like the perfect moment to spend some time with the people behind it all.
We visited Sarah and Lawrence in their Hove shop one quiet morning before they opened, styled them in a few of our favourite pieces, and spoke about music, community, identity, and what it means to build an independent business that people actually want to return to. Their passion for what they do is infectious; the kind of energy that makes Brighton’s independent scene so special.
Below, you’ll find our full conversation with the pair, from their unexpected journey to opening a record shop, to the thinking behind their new listening room, to the overlaps they see between music and style. There’s also a special Capsule Records x Peggs & son playlist they’ve put together for us, designed to soundtrack a half-hour browse in our shop or your next stroll through town.
This is Friends of Peggs - celebrating two locals who make Brighton better just by being here.
P&S: For anyone who hasn’t visited yet - what is Capsule Records, and how did it come to be?
Capsule: We’re a neighbourhood record shop with a cosy coffee bar, passionate staff and state of the art sound system - it's the perfect space to spend some time discovering good music. We moved to Hove in 2020 and opened our Capsule doors in 2023 after deciding we could bring something new and different to our part of Brighton.
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P&S: Did either of you always imagine running a space like this, or did it happen more organically?
Capsule: Nope! It was a completely organic thing. We didn’t plan to live in Brighton/Hove let alone open a shop. But covid happened, life changed, and we found ourselves here with an ambition to take a passion into our everyday life.
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P&S: The name Capsule feels quite considered. What does it mean to you?
Capsule: Shamelessly nicking from the fashion world, Capsule came from the idea that everyone needs a curated shortlist of essential, timeless records as the foundation of their record collection before adding in new, experimental records to keep it fresh and evolving.
P&S: You’ve just extended the store into the basement, can you tell us a bit about what’s happening down there?
Capsule: We’ve opened a hi-fi and listening room in our recently renovated basement space and now sell a small range of Pro-Ject audio-sets for home use. The space is also a listening room in partnership with a local audio manufacturer called Audio Note. Our ambition there is to start putting on album listening events showcasing music in the way it was meant to be heard.
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P&S: How do you see this addition shaping what Capsule becomes next?
Capsule: We get a lot of customers who are passionate about music and our shop but don’t yet have a turntable so it’s about helping them start their vinyl journey. And the Audio Note initiative is part of the mission to make new music discovery a joyful thing.
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P&S: What kind of atmosphere are you trying to create?
Capsule: A vibrant and welcoming space where people can come hang out, get inspired, discover a new artist, buy something they hadn’t planned to! Customers consistently say that our place has the most lovely vibe, which we think is down to a combination of passionate people, great music played on great audio, and a well designed shop.
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P&S: Capsule feels like a really natural fit within Brighton’s independent scene. How has it been becoming part of that community?
Capsule: Brighton is such an open, welcoming and supportive place it’s been a real joy getting to know the independent scene and becoming part of it. Everyone’s open for a chat to explore collaborative ideas and that’s where the magic often happens.
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P&S: What does “independent” mean to you in the context of what you do?
Capsule: Decision-making that is based around the local community we serve. We believe it’s our curation that sets us apart and is what our shop customers love us for. That comes from selling the music we believe in, not just the music that will sell.
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P&S: Do you see parallels between Capsule and other local independents like Peggs & son - whether in approach, values, or the way you think about curation?
Capsule: Yes! Curation can be a bit of an overused word but it is for exactly that reason our customers love us, as they do you. We both put in the hard yards so that when customers come through the door they know every item has been selected by the team and is worth consideration. And the next parallel is that proactive service we both offer to suggest items that may not be on a customer’s radar but that we believe can genuinely excite and ‘fit’ into their existing collections.
P&S: How do you go about choosing what records to stock?
Capsule: A lot of listening! We do listen to everything before we buy it (not necessarily the full LP but enough to judge if we think it’s right for us). Plus customer recommendations can be a really great source of discovery. We don’t pretend we know it all and can uncover a real gem from a conversation in-store.
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P&S: Is there a particular sound, mood, or era that runs through the collection?
Capsule: We’re mostly ‘music of black origin’ as a catch all descriptor, and whilst that by no means captures everything in store, it’s a helpful indicator of our key genres of soul, funk, disco, jazz, hip hop, reggae and world music. We do also cover pop and rock classics across the eras.
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P&S: There’s a clear sense of style to how Capsule looks and feels - from the shelving to the signage to the records themselves. How intentional is that visual side of things?
Capsule: Hugely intentional. It was really important to us both to ensure the environment & the brand were worked up in parallel, and with regard to each other. We wanted to be welcoming, open & inspiring both physically and emotionally. We both come from brand and marketing backgrounds so we appreciate the importance of identity and tone.
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P&S: How much do you think music and clothing overlap? Do you see the same people who care about how they dress also caring deeply about what they listen to?
Capsule: Undoubtedly there’s an overlap for some folks. Because what we sell can be streamed for free it’s definitely a certain person who wants to invest in the physical form of music and by extension the artist. The same will be true for premium fashion.
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P&S: How would you describe your own personal style? Are there particular brands, eras or influences that you’re drawn to?
Lawrence: Historically been a sucker for a slightly tailored look. Echoing a late 60's Slim Aarons vibe! The Peggs team have dragged me into the looser, baggier, multi layered style and I’m the better for it!
Sarah: Modern classic with a touch of femininity and plenty of colour. It’s hard to get me out of a well cut pair of jeans but I have been known to show a leg on a hot day!
P&S: What’s been on heavy rotation for you both lately?
Sarah: Somewhere Soul, Ebo Taylor, Brian Jackson with Masters at Work, Akasaka Soul, Funk 69-77, Amadou & Mariam.
Lawrence: Marc Moulin, Yasmine Hamdan, The Circling Sun, Chip Wickham.
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P&S: Are there any records that you think perfectly capture the Capsule sound or spirit?
Capsule: Given how much time we invest in curating the shop I think almost anything we stock can fit our spirit! Have a listen to our Capsule Records x Peggs & son playlist for some highlights!
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P&S: How did you approach putting together your playlist for us?
Capsule: As most shoppers are only with you for around half an hour we’ve built an upbeat and diverse playlist that keeps a steady tempo rather than builds towards an end point. Going heavy on funk, soul, world and afro-beat with the odd crowd pleaser thrown in! The playlist represents all the great music we love in our shop and that we believe is perfect for your retail space and can be enjoyed by both staff and customers alike. And given our appreciation of local independent businesses we’ve also included tracks from local labels and artists that we love and deserve more plays.
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P&S: When you shop at Peggs, what draws you to certain brands or pieces? Is it craftsmanship, fit, functionality… or something else?
Lawrence: In most cases, what draws me to something is one of the Peggs team telling me to try it on! They are usually spot on.
P&S: Guilty Pleasure Track?
Sarah: Anything from Sade.
Lawrence: Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
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P&S: If the shop was on fire, which record are you saving?
Capsule: Our signed copy of Chip Wickham’s The Eternal Now that was also the second record off the press! Beautiful album, top man. Represents a lovely moment for us and the evolution of the store.
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P&S: Best restaurant in Brighton?
Capsule: VOYA
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P&S: A local independent you think deserves more love?
Capsule: Florian. Local florist & gift shop in Hove that is always beautifully put together and staffed by a wonderful team.
P&S: What are you most excited about for this next chapter of Capsule?
Capsule: Taking our love of great music and audio to the next level with our new floor dedicated to helping people get into vinyl and to appreciate music quality more deeply. If feels like vinyl-only spaces are popping up everywhere in Brighton’s social scene and it’s great to be part of that community.
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P&S: Are there any future plans you can hint at beyond the new basement space?
Capsule: More events. Both in store and out in other venues. We love bringing folk together.
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P&S: Finally, what do you hope people take away from visiting Capsule?
Capsule: A bloody good record! Ideally one they didn’t come in for but couldn’t leave without.
