Located on the lively Portsmouth harbour, Gunwharf Quays stands as the South’s top shopping and leisure destination.
Boasting over 90 designer outlets and an array of bars, cafes, and restaurants, along with an art gallery, cinema, casino, and more, it’s the premier destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Proud home to the Clipper Around the World race, Gunwharf seamlessly combines history with contemporary luxury.
Attractions
Standing iconically over the harbour, the 170-meter-tall Spinnaker Tower is the iconic Sail of the Solent, providing breathtaking views of the harbour, city, and beyond. Enjoy dining options at the Spinnaker Cafe & Bar on the waterfront or ascend 105 meters to Clouds Cafe. In summer, it’s common to witness people abseiling from the tower, with the oldest participant being an impressive 101 years old!
To wrap up a lively family day, Gunwharf offers a Hollywood Bowl bowling alley and arcade, alongside a newly renovated Vue cinema for the latest films. For adults, there’s an array of restaurants and late-night bars, including a Grosvenor Casino.
Naval History
Gunwharf’s Origins
The site of Gunwharf Quays was once a mere mudflat until reclamation work began in the early 1700s, creating a wharf that extended into the harbour essential for military logistics.
The area was established as an Ordnance Yard by the Board of Ordnance, serving as the main repository and maintenance facility for naval ships and armaments. The Grand Storehouse (now the Vulcan Building) housed an astonishing amount of arms and munitions; “hundreds of huge mortars and cannon neatly arranged, and pyramids of up to 40,000 cannonballs and shells. The stores and magazines contained 21,000 rifles, other small arms, boarding hooks and gun carriages.” – ‘Defence of the Realm’, John Sadden
HMS Vernon
By the late 18th century, Gunwharf had evolved into a crucial hub for supplying the navy, and in 1923 was officially established as HMS Vernon, a dedicated base for the Royal Navy. The shore establishment became the main training and trial centre for mine and torpedo warfare, and became integral to the D-Day preparations, with units based at Gunwharf responsible for carrying 3rd British Division to Sword Beach on D-Day.
The site was decommissioned in 1986 following shifts in naval operational needs and underwent redevelopment in the late 1990s. Seven acres of foreshore were reclaimed to construct Gunwharf Quays, where 76 unexploded ordnances were uncovered during the building process. Today, the site is home to four Scheduled Ancient Monuments, a prestigious category that includes only 2% of listed buildings.
The primary covered shopping area in Gunwharf, known as The Avenues, is named after notable historical figures. For instance, Sirius Ave. and Phillip Ave. are dedicated to Arthur Phillip, the captain of HMS Sirius, who departed from Portsmouth in 1787 to establish the colony of New South Wales in Australia. Mercator Ave. pays tribute to Gerardus Mercator, who released one of the first world maps in 1569. The Mercator Projection continues to be utilised in Ordnance Survey maps today.
