Tucked snugly into Eld Lane is a small, yet vibrant, hub perfect for all sorts of creatives, music enthusiasts and vintage fashion lovers.
Best Days Vintage is a local, independently run café, clothes shop and vinyl store, and may just have your next favourite jacket, or potentially that one record you have been itching to get your hands on.
Running the shop are ex bandmates, and long-time friends, Jez Dixon and Steve Hurdle, who never fail to provide high-quality coffee, alongside a welcoming and memorable customer experience.
“I want people to leave happier than when they came in” is what Jez expressed upon being asked what he had aimed to achieve when opening the shop, and this is something that they certainly seem to achieve.
Even to those simply passing by, it is clear that Best Days Vintage harbours a friendly community and an undeniably distinct, indie look that is perfect for people of all ages across Colchester.
According to Dixon, since opening in 2013, business has become “more and more difficult”, as most people prefer to shop online.
This is a challenge that all small businesses on high streets across the country have been facing for years now, particularly since the first lockdown in 2020.
To many, the convenience of ordering from apps such as ‘Depop’ and ‘Vinted’ makes shops like Best Days almost redundant.
Attempting to compete against this, the owners of Best Days have intentionally set up ‘experience-led’ shopping, in creating an environment that is both visually and mentally stimulating.
From their Blur mural, to their vinyl selection, to their plethora of music-related artworks plastered on the walls, Best Days is has become so much more than just a standard shop.
