It was once lovingly described as ‘The Sax Temple, by one of the world's leading saxophonists, Courtney Pine. For me, as a saxophonist, it's my personal Mecca. During my days at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, studying under Lara James and Gerard McChrystal, it was spoken about as a place that held everything that a saxophonist could ever want or need. We often made the mass pilgrimage on the Megabus down the M4 corridor to London when we had enough of a shopping list to make the travel cost worth it. We were students, after all.
And my, it is always worth it.
Once through the doors, you've arrived at saxophone heaven. The range extends from the tiny soprillo to the sopranino, curved soprano, straight soprano, alto, C melody, tenor, baritone, bass and even the gigantic contrabass saxophone, all beautifully lined up, notes filling the air.
The store caters for beginners, intermediate and advanced players alike. What's also clear is the knowledge and expertise of the staff on hand; you can guarantee a perfect choice, regardless of your playing or teaching objectives.
Sax.co.uk was started in 1995 by managing director Phill Straker. The original intention, other than just to diversify income within a portfolio career, was to make saxophones easily available to all the adults who kept bumping into him at gigs declaring, ‘I wish I could play the sax.’ (There is no such thing as ‘too late to start’!) Like most excellent ideas, it started small. Straker put together a comprehensive bumper starter pack and made it readily available on a low-cost hire basis. It soon became a roaring success, and suddenly, the saxophone became accessible to all and not just the few.
Thanks to the immeasurable growth of the internet, Sax.co.uk was born and has since evolved into the leading supplier of saxophones across the globe. Sax.co.uk has such a reputation that professional sax players worldwide are confident to buy direct, and students of all abilities make the trip from all corners of the country and beyond. Not too shabby, at all.
Sax.co.uk is not short of its industry accolades. In 2012 and 2013, the company was awarded ‘Best Specialist Supplier’ in the national MIA Awards (Music Industry Association) as the result of a public vote. Additionally, 2014 saw Sax.co.uk become the first music dealer in the UK to be included in the Top 100 Dealers as listed by NAMM (The American National Association of Music Merchants).
Sax.co.uk is split into two branches – Sussex and London. Sussex, the main UK headquarters, is renowned as the largest saxophone store in the world, with some 400 saxophones displayed in a 5,000 square foot showroom. Incredible. But it's not always been the case; Sussex has overcome a number of trials and tribulations in the past. In 2017, the store was subject to three separate break-ins within just six weeks, resulting in the theft of around £140,000 worth of stock, including a rare and irreplaceable vintage Selmer alto saxophone.
London is going from strength to strength. In 2018, as a result of an expired lease and HS2 disruption, the London branch – at the time coupled with brass heavyweight Phil Parker, and innovative woodwind dealer The Vibe – was forced to split and relocate. Sax.co.uk landed on the South Bank, the cultural corner of London, boasting neighbours such as the Southbank Centre, National Theatre and the BFI.
But why the South Bank? ‘We loved our previous location’, says London director Jamie Straker. ‘But with the development of HS2, our time was up and we had to move. We wanted a place that was like-for-like, and finding the new location on the South Bank felt like a no-brainer. It's well connected, with Blackfriars, London Bridge and various tube stations around, but with the additional benefit of tourist footfall, given the London landmarks nearby. It's a buzzing part of the capital.’
The 370m2 unit was acquired as a completely blank canvas, enabling the team to design a purpose-built store optimised for woodwind players, with eight playtesting rooms and a studio for the production of demonstration videos (catering to over 95,000 YouTube subscribers). That's not all, as previous shop-mate The Vibe is now fully integrated and rebranded as Clarinet & Flute London, making the store the biggest of its kind in the capital.
The store is not just a place to buy saxophones, but a place to be inspired. Recent masterclasses with Dean Mongerio, Bob Reynolds and Jeff Coffin show unique and inspiring approaches to saxophone playing – great for teachers and students alike.
What about educational endeavours? The Southbank Centre is renowned for running a packed programme of participatory events and projects designed to engage and inspire children, families, young people and adults from all backgrounds. Will there be room for Sax.co.uk to expand its educational initiatives? ‘Never say never,’ says Straker. ‘While we're establishing our presence on the South Bank, opportunities may arise. The potential is exciting, that's for sure.’
What's next? Straker was able to give us a sneak preview into the store's upcoming roster, including an exclusive masterclass by saxophone heavyweight Andy Scott this May. With London getting ready for the 2019 Saxophone Festival, the second of its kind to hit the capital, it's clear that the best is yet to come.
