Woman shopping for postcards outside entrance of Hotwalls Studios
Hot Walls - City Guide 2022

Discover our local and designer shops

Find designer brands, unique locally-made items, vintage finds and much more


Portsmouth and Southsea are great places for shopping.

If you like to buy from local, independent shops, you'll find lots of choice in our thriving small business community. We also have a designer shopping outlet by the waterfront where you'll find big brands at discounted prices, and a central shopping district for high street names.

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Independent shops

Southsea is an independent shopper's paradise. You'll find everything from vintage clothes, to records, homeware, flowers and craft supplies. These are some of our favourite independent shops in Southsea. 

Budd's Apothecary in Southsea

Budd's Herbal Apothecary

A beautiful retro-looking apothecary, selling all manner of herbal remedies > buddsherbalmedicine.com

Seeded haberdashery shop in Southsea

Seeded

A haberdashery and workspace selling wool and vintage buttons. They also run craft workshops and a weekly crafting meet up > seeded.com

An artist's studio at the Hotwalls

Hotwalls Studios

A collection of artists' studios where you can see the artists at work and buy artwork and gifts > hotwallsstudios.co.uk

Shirts hanging up on the wall in Dress Code

Dress Code 

Portsmouth and Southsea's vintage vinyl records, clothing and quirky gifts boutique > dress-code.co.uk

Nothing Ventured Vinyl in Southsea

Nothing Ventured Vinyl

Electronic music specialists selling rare and vintage vinyl – you'll often find in-store DJs there too > nothingventuredvinyl.co.uk

Rose Clover plant shop in Southsea

Rose Clover

A super-friendly florists stocking plants, flowers and ultra-stylish pots to keep them in  > roseclover.co.uk

Bottles of gin at Portsmouth Distillery

Portsmouth Distillery

Hand-crafted, multiple award-winning spirits distilled in an eighteenth century fort. They also run tasting tours > theportsmouthdistillery.com

 

Portsmouth clothing brands

We're home to lots of independent clothing brands, these are our faves. 

Strong Island shop in Southsea

Strong Island Clothing Co

Portsmouth's homegrown clothing brand, inspired by the sea and the city > strongislandclothingco.com

A Love Southsea hessian bag next to someone wearing a pink skirt and Vans

Love Southsea

Jumpers, t-shirts, artwork, homeware and gifts – all celebrating Southsea > lovesouthsea.co.uk

Bored of Southsea skate shop

Bored of Southsea

An independent skate shop (and Southsea institution) selling skating clothing and equipment > boredofsouthsea.co.uk

A woman holding a paddleboard at the beach

Island Feather

A boutique sport and fitness brand for women, inspired by the sea on our doorstep > islandfeather.com

Street markets

Whether you're looking for gifts, clothing or food, you'll find street markets that meet your needs across Portsmouth. 

Love Southsea Market

Held on the first weekend of every month, you'll find gifts, homeware and clothing from local makers and independent businesses at this market on Palmerston Road.

Hampshire Farmers' Market

Held every third Sunday of the month on Palmerston Road, you can buy fresh produce from local producers including local meats, cheeses, baked goods, pickles, fruits and vegetables.

Commercial Road Market

All day every Thursday, Friday and Saturday selling fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Seasonal markets

Keep an eye out for seasonal markets at different times of year, like around Christmas and in the summer.

People shopping at a street market

Shopping on the high street

Gunwharf Quays outlet

Gunwharf Quays (pictured above) is the biggest shopping outlet for designer brands in Portsmouth. You'll find outlet stores from major international names such as Nike, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, All Saints, Jack Wills, Michael Kors, Vans, Adidas, The North Face, Molton Brown, Bose and many more.

Gunwharf is also home to a 14-screen Vue cinema, a bowling alley, Aspex contemporary art gallery, and a host of restaurants – including Nando's, Pizza Express, Five Guys, Wagamama, and Loch Fyne. There are plenty of bars and a casino to discover as well.

And it's where you'll find a centrepiece of the Portsmouth skyline – the iconic Spinnaker Tower – which offers panoramic views of the city and the Solent from it's viewing platform. 

Getting to Gunwharf from campus is quick and easy – it's a 10 minute walk from University House to Gunwharf, and if you're travelling by bus or train from further afield, Gunwharf is situated right next to the Portsmouth bus terminal and Portsmouth Harbour railway station.

Commercial Road, Southsea and North End

Commercial Road is the main high street in Portsmouth, where you'll find Primark, Debenhams, Topshop and H&M. Southsea and North End also have smaller high streets.

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