Tourism & retail

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Key facts

  • The £450 million redevelopment project in the City centre’s Northern Quarter will include two anchor stores, John Lewis and Marks and Spencers, and 80 exciting new shops, to be completed in 2015.
  • Southsea Town Centre is home to hundreds of independent traders and offers Boutique shopping, specialist markets and relaxed seaside eating and drinking.
  • The Historic Dockyard was chosen by Which? Magazine as one of the UK’s top 10 paid-for heritage attractions in 2007.
  • Over 40 million people have visited Gunwharf Quays since opening in March 2001.
  • Blue Reef Aquarium in Southsea has been voted Visitor Attraction of the Year by Tourism South East.
  • Albert Road in Southsea has 200 independent retail shops all owner managed selling everything from antiques to high fashion.
  • Windsurfing was invented on Hayling Island.
  • Gunwharf Quays has helped to provide over £100million of investment into the local economy, created 2,475 new jobs and attracts over 115,000 visitors per week.
  • The ONE MILLIONTH visitor to the Spinnaker Tower walked through its doors in September 07, less than two years after the opening. A testament to the Tower’s outstanding success!
  • Portsmouth is the host of world-class sailing and maritime events such as the Global Challenge, the Volvo Ocean Race, Trafalgar 200 and IFOS.
  • Action Stations, based at the Historic Dockyard. is home to the tallest indoor climbing tower in the UK.
  • Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard is home to three of the most important ships ever built.  Henry VIII's favourite warship, the Mary Rose; Nelson's flagship, the HMS Victory; and the pride of Queen Victoria's Navy, HMS Warrior 1860. 
  • The Historic Dockyard has won awards for excellence including The Good Britain’s Guide Family Attraction of the Year and Enjoy England’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Excellence Award.
  • Gunwharf Quays is the only shopping centre in the UK with a marina.

Testimonials

Gunwharf Quays is a stunning development in the unique setting of Portsmouth Harbour and as a regional destination it has been essential for us to create a unique festival atmosphere to complement the strong retail and restaurant mix.  The year round events programme, which has included world class yachting events; seasonal community events such as carnivals; as well as fireworks, markets and street theatre serves to give visitors reasons beyond shopping to return to Gunwharf Quays, and Portsmouth, again and again.

Working with our partners in the City, such as the New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth City Council, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Aspex contemporary art gallery has been invaluable in moving Gunwharf Quays forward, as well as continuing to raise Portsmouth’s profile as a visitor destination.

Deborah Owen Ellis Clarke
Marketing Director
Gunwharf Quays

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