Gunwharf Quays

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Shops, bars, and restaurants in Gunwharf Quays.

Gunwharf Quays is an area of Portsmouth, Hampshire, now home to a large shopping centre. Opened on 28 February 2001, the centre contains 95 designer shopping outlets as well as 20 bars and restaurants and the Spinnaker Tower. There is also a 14-screen Vue cinema, a Bowlplex bowling alley, a Jongleurs comedy club and a 120 bed hotel. Currently under construction is a 26 storey Skyscraper under the title Eastside Plaza, built to resemble a funnel this makes a seafaring composition with the existing sail-like Spinnaker Tower. There are numerous bars, cafes and restaurants located by the waterfront with an excellent view of shipping movements into Portsmouth Harbour.

The centre is located close to the Historic Dockyard and "Old Portsmouth". It can be accessed quickly from Portsmouth Harbour railway station and "the Hard" bus interchange, or via a relatively short walk from Commercial Road.

Gunwharf Quays is located on the site of the former Royal Navy shore establishment HMS Vernon, renamed HMS Nelson (Vernon Site) on March 31, 1986. In 1987, the establishment was renamed HMS Nelson (Gunwharf) although locally it continued to be known as HMS Vernon. The concept for the redevelopment was by local architects HGP. Its very successful exploitation of its harbourside situation (cf. Baltimore, USA) and the sympathetic integration of old and new architecture makes an interesting contrast with past redevelopments such as the Tricorn.

The Berkeley Group plc is responsible for the new development.