Albert Road Shopping
Albert Road is located in the heart of central Southsea, Portsmouth, and is a bustling hub with an eclectic mix of shops, Albert Road restaurants and pubs.
There are only a few national and chain retail outlets, the majority of shops being mainly independent traders helping give the area its unique atmosphere and feel.
The area has been described as, "exciting, Bohemian, contemporary, highly diverse and unique to Portsmouth."
At the heart of Albert Road is the Kings Theatre on the corner of Exmouth Road.
The Kings which opened in September 1907, was designed by the highly respected theatre architect Frank Matcham and is described as one of the best examples of Edwardian playhouse to be found in the British Isles.
The theatre retains most of it's original features including the highly ornate and richly decorated plaster work and cornices evident in the main auditorium and public spaces.
Shops at Albert Road include:
Plus many, many more, independent, interesting and quirky shops.
Albert Food Store
Grocery shop stocking a wide variety of international foods and spices, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables.
Albert Road Food Store: 131 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SQ
Bored of Southsea
Bored of Southsea sells skate board equipment and clothing, Carhartt WIP, Spitfire wheels, DVS shoes, Independent Truck Company clothing and Southsea Bronx Strong Island products.
Bored of Southsea: 23 Albert Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SE
Creatiques Bridal Boutique
Creatiques Bridal Boutique at Albert Road have many years of experience in the bridal field and have more than 100 wedding gowns to choose from. Gowns from designers such as Maggie Sottero, Sottero and Midgley, Sincerity Bridal, Rebecca Ingram, Adore by Justin Alexander, Gaia Bridal and Mark Lesley feature in the range. Creatiques is a member of the RBA bridal wear association, which means that you are buying from the highest standards of stock, decor and service.
Creatiques Bridal Boutique: 151 Albert Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO4 0JW
Dress Code
Selling vinyl, retro clothing and quirky gifts, Dress Code is an independently owned vintage boutique. A great range of 80s and 90s vintage sportswear, 90s grunge check shirts, denim jackets and shell suits, for men and women.
Dress Code: 1b Albert Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SE
Head Case Curios
Head Case Curios have a great range of unique and unusual items such as swagger canes, goggles, sunglasses, antiques, vintage, retro, gothic, steampunk, nautical and much more.
Head Case Curios: 4 Albert Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SH
Herbies Health Store
Herbies Health Store stocks a wide range of wholefoods, vitamins, supplements and plant-based alternatives. There is a great choice of locally sourced products such as local honey. You can refill your own containers for some items such as cleaning and personal care threby reducing waste packaging.
Herbies Health Store: 241 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO4 0JR
Langford Antiques
Langford Antiques is a great antique shop with loads of stock including costume jewellery, art prints,furniture, naval items and Middle Eastern specialties.
Langford Antiques: 70 Albert Rd, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SL
Parmiters Antiques
On the corner of Albert Road and Exmouth Road, opposite The Kings Theatre, Parmiters Antiques has a wide range of items from classic pieces, architectural gems, art, sculpture, fairground and circus items to advertising objects.
Parmiters Antiques: 2 Exmouth Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2QL
Room 237
Room 237 is Southsea's premier source of American comics and graphic novels, from main stream super heroes to independent creations.
Room 237: 29 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SE
Seymours Fireplaces
Seymours Fireplaces have years of experience is restoring and installing period fireplaces, solid fuel stoves as well as gas fires. A family run business, Seymours are a HETAS Registered Appliance Installer.
Seymours Fireplaces: 91 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SG
Southsea Gallery
The excellent Southsea Gallery was founded in 2008 and carries out a custom picture framing service with a wide range of styles to choose from, ready made pictures frames, print services, art work by local and other artists and photographers. Southsea gallery also stocks a great range of posters and greetings cards.
Southsea Gallery: 51 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SF
Southsea Models and Games
Southsea Models and Games has an extensive stock of vintage and new collectables and role playing games, wargaming, roleplaying board games and model kits.
Southsea Models and Games: 69 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SG
Street Level
Great little music shop in the heart of Southsea, Street Level has a wide range of instruments and accessories, specialises in guitars, sales, repairs and set up.
Street Level: 139 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, PO5 2SQ
Tango Tea Collectables
Tango Tea Collectables has a great range of vintage pieces, furniture, art works. Also arts and crafts and picture framing.
Tweedy Clothing Ltd
Tweedy Clothing specialise in sustainable and ethical fashion clothing. Ladies, mens and childrens ranges as well as accessories and jewellery.
There is a diverse range of shops to choose from in Albert Road including comic book stores, cafes, hairdressers, music shops, vintage and retro clothing shops, art and crafts, a great range of antique shops, off licences, second hand books, furniture dealers, specialist food shops and fruit and vegetable shops. The area retains the feel of a traditional high street and has a real sense of community.
The restaurants in Albert Road Southsea are renowned for their wide range and choice of cuisine catering for all budgets, there are restaurants and takeaways providing cuisine from around the world such as Indian and Pakistani, Pizzas, Kebabs, Chinese, Thai, Caribbean as well as traditional British food.
The area also has a wide range of pubs, bars and cafes. Many of the pubs such as the Wine Vaults and the 5th Hants Volunteer specialise in serving real ale and many serve great pub food. The Phoenix in Duncan Road is a great traditional pub which has stable facilities sometimes used by the nearby Kings Theatre to house animals appearing in productions.
O'Neill's, on the junction between Albert Road and Victoria Road, is housed in the building that what was previously Southsea Police Station. Opened on 14th June 1873 the station originally housed twenty eight Police officers. The station was rebuilt and expanded in 1956. The Police station finally closed in 1994.
Towards the eastern end of Albert Road is the Wedgewood Rooms a live music and comedy venue with a capacity of 450 - 500 people depending on use. Before becoming a music venue the Wedgewood Rooms was a more traditional function suite hosting dinner dances, awards ceremonies, society functions, wedding receptions and private parties.
The current Wedgewood Rooms venue has hosted concerts by bands such as the Klaxons, Travis, Renegades and Bowling For Soup. The venue is a favourite of many bands to host pre tour warm up concerts and promotional events.
Until 2009 a very popular community street festival called Love Albert Road Day was held each year in late July. The festival included street entertainment, live music and bands and was aimed at promoting the Albert Road area and showcase the businesses located there.
However the event became too popular, with an estimated 100,000 people attending in 2009. Due to the large scale of the event the costs for bus diversions, road closure, policing, insurance and the clean up operation afterwards became prohibitive and Love Albert Road Day was cancelled in 2010 and has not been held since. A smaller ticket only music festival, Southsea Fest is now held annually, featuring live music and entertainment located in participating pubs and venues along the road.
Albert Road in Southsea
