Shops in Havant
High street shopping and everyday services
Havant town centre has a functional shopping offer that serves the everyday needs of the local community. The main retail areas are East Street, West Street and The Springs shopping centre, with additional shops along the Pallant and the surrounding streets. The offer is practical rather than aspirational, reflecting a working market town rather than a boutique destination.
The Springs shopping centre, opened in the 1990s to anchor the town centre retail offer, has a mix of high street names and smaller units. It provides a covered shopping environment and draws footfall into the centre of town. The centre has seen some turnover of tenants over the years, reflecting the broader pressures on high street retail, but it continues to function as the main shopping draw in Havant.
East Street has charity shops, independent retailers, takeaways, estate agents and service businesses. The charity shops are well supported and well stocked, popular with bargain hunters and browsers. Hairdressers, phone repair shops, betting shops and other service businesses fill many of the remaining units. The pattern is familiar from market towns across southern England, where the shift to online shopping has changed the character of the high street.
West Street has a smaller number of shops and services, and North Street and South Street contribute their own mix of businesses. The Pallant, a small area near the crossroads, has a few specialist shops and cafes that add character.
Market stalls have been part of Havant's retail offer for centuries. The town's charter market has a long history, and regular markets continue to bring fresh produce, household goods and other items to the town centre. The market adds colour and variety to the shopping experience.
For a wider choice of shops, residents head to the retail parks along the A27 corridor, to Portsmouth's Commercial Road and Gunwharf Quays, or to Chichester, which has a stronger independent shopping scene. Online shopping has also reduced the pressure on the town centre to provide everything.
Market stalls have been part of Havant's retail offer for centuries. The town's charter market has a long history, and regular markets continue to bring fresh produce, household goods and other items to the town centre, adding variety that the permanent shops cannot always provide. For a wider choice, residents head to the retail parks along the A27 corridor, to Portsmouth's Commercial Road and Gunwharf Quays, or to Chichester, which has a stronger independent shopping scene. Online shopping has also reduced the pressure on the town centre to provide everything, and the mix of what the high street offers continues to evolve as consumer habits change. The challenge for Havant, as for every market town in England, is to find a role for the town centre that goes beyond pure retail.