Turner Violins

Turner Violins is hidden above Hobgoblin Music on the edge of the Custard Factory. You head up the stairs and have to buzz to be allowed entrance, which all seemed rather secret-​agenty to me, until I was allowed entrance and was completely mesmerised by the quantity of beautiful, ancient and expensive instruments surrounding me.
The staff bustle about in green aprons and remind me of apothecaries, except instead of mixing potions they’re tweaking strings and prepping bows. I think the staff were somewhat bemused by me. In all honesty, I’d been to see the Revival Tour and had concluded my next hobby was going to be playing the violin which would lead me to create my own folk troupe (I never dream small!). So it made sense to me to go to a violin shop to find out what’s what. And instead, upon entering the shop, I just stood gawping for a few long moments whilst the staff stood staring at me waiting for me to ask for help or assistance of some kind. First I started by exploring (read: gawping) at a room full of stunning violins, which smelt of musty wood and libraries — the violins were hung row upon row on a specialist hanging system which makes quite a spectacle, and completely fills one room. Next up, after the shop assistant left me to my own devices I found myself wandering into a room of cellos, and then a room of double basses. I used to play double bass (grade 5 distinction, whoop!) and nearly did a little Unilocal of joy when I saw them stood proudly side by side. So much artistry. I felt humbled, knowing that I was nowhere near worthy of playing such beautiful instruments.
Needless to say, I came away violin-​less, but hugely inspired. The people there were FULL of knowledge, and I know that if I DO decide to pursue yet another hobby, that’ll be my first port of call.