Big Whistle
Big Whistle has one aim: to be the best tin whistle shop in the world.
Established in 2000 by Phil Brown - known by many simply as "the whistle man" - the business was taken over by a trio of friends in Sheffield, England, in 2021. Since then, Big Whistle has gone from strength to strength, expanding its offering and customer base.
With over 20 brands stocked, and over 200 different whistles available, it's safe to say that no other shop in the world specialises in whistles the way Big Whistle do.
"Our goal is pretty simple," explains James Pannell, Managing Director. "We want to offer the best service in the world to the tin whistle community."
The sheer range of brands available is one aspect of the service. But James is keen to emphasise that they don't just stock any brand. "Of course, we stock most of the biggest, most popular brands, because they make great whistles. But we also work with a lot of smaller makers who are less well-known."
While some of the big-hitting popular names include the likes of Carbony, MK, and Dixon, the shop also stocks many smaller, upcoming brands, including iVolga, Shush Instruments, Harmony Flutes, Rui Gomes, and Thornton whistles.
"Many makers are evolving their whistles as tastes change, and people look for different things out of a whistle. In recent times, we've seen a lot of interest in quiet whistles, like the Shush whistle, and in low whistles that are more comfortable to hold, like Carbony's close-spacing model. We've also seen a lot of demand for affordable wooden whistles, with iVolga proving very popular. We're expecting to see more makers start to move in these innovative directions as the tin whistle continues to evolve."
If you're looking to learn more about some of the exciting makers on the scene today, take a look at Big Whistle's tin whistle buyer's guide for the low-down on their recommended brands.
From Dr Badphil