Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with Love Southsea and supported by Landsec, today announced the opening of the “Love Portsmouth” pop-up shop at Gunwharf Quays.
The shop, officially opening on Saturday 18 January at 10am will showcase a curated selection of high-quality goods produced by local Portsmouth businesses. Visitors can expect to find a diverse range of products, including natural skincare, handcrafted jewellery, quality teas, fashion, and unique children’s clothing, and more. The shop will also prominently feature and promote the city’s renowned food and drink producers, including The Portsmouth Distillery Company, Staggeringly Good Brewery, Southsea Brewing Company, Spice Island Chilli and Yarty.
The Love Portsmouth pop-up shop, funded from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, serves as a valuable platform for local businesses to:
- Expand their reach and benefit from the premium retail environment offered by Gunwharf Quays.
- Enhance their brands, increasing their visibility and awareness among a wider audience.
- Gain valuable retail experience and learn essential retail skills while directly managing the shop.
- Access new opportunities by showcasing their products to regional and national buyers who work with Gunwharf Quays brands.
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the council with responsibility for Economic Development said:
“The Love Portsmouth pop-up shop presents a unique opportunity for our talented small businesses. We are enabling them to expand their reach, enhance their brand visibility, and gain invaluable retail experience. This initiative not only empowers our entrepreneurs but also strengthens our local economy by fostering growth and innovation within our business community.”
Lulu Whitmore, Director of Love Southsea, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating:
“This is so exciting for Portsmouth’s local businesses. The Love Portsmouth shop is proudly Portsmouth and will be a vibrant hub showcasing incredible local makers and produce producers. Portsmouth & Southsea has the best talent, and as a city, we really do know how to shop local. We can’t wait to welcome you all into the shop!”
Yvonne Clay, CEO of Gunwharf Quays said:
“As well as being home to famous national and international brands, we have a proud history working with local suppliers and supporting regional initiatives, so we are delighted to showcase the Love Portsmouth pop-up, which we’re sure will be a hit with guests.
“It’s hugely rewarding for us to play an active part in the community, which last year included hosting two artisan markets, supporting the ‘Made in Portsmouth’ challenge, raising funds for local charities and supporting regional not-for-profit organisations with grants via the Landsec Futures Community Grant Scheme.”
The Love Portsmouth shop will be open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM until the end of March 2025. In addition to retail sales, the shop will host a series of workshops and events to further promote local products and businesses.
For more information visit rediscoverportsmouth.co.uk/love-portsmouth