To think Southampton city centre is disappointing?

[Perplexing]

I visited yesterday for first time in about 21 years. Apart from the West Quay centre which, unless I missed a lot of it, I found underwhelming, there didn't seem to be much else. And what little else there is seems to close at 5.30. The place felt rather soulless and almost seedy, even at 6pm. The top end of town is now pretty derelict (where Tyrrell & Green used to be) and unless I've gone deaf in the intervening tears, the civic centre clock has stopped chiming. There were also lots of people swearing in public, I mean you expect to hear a few, but it seemed literally every other person was saying F-this or that (very loudly)

I haven't been to Whiteley since they revamped it, I really should try and pop up there. It used to be a bit nothingy, but I did like Frankie and Benny's.

Port Solent looks a bit tired now, I think it lost out big time when Gunwharf opened.

I was at Uni in Southampton (early 90s) and it was the arsehole of the South of England then and it still is, I'm afraid.

It just lacks something, I'm not sure what because I'm sure it has the same shops as most cities. It's just, well, shite.

I miss shopping in Southampton. I moved 3 years ago from near Portsmouth and DH and I preferred Southampton to Chichester or Portsmouth. DM and I were discussing it at the weekend and she misses the shopping when she would visit.

I've lived all over the bottom half of the UK and it was my favorite shopping experience.

YABU

Has it got a city centre? From my memories of it it has a shopping mall in the centre and not much else.

I still go to Port Solent occasionally to meet up with a group of friends from the Portsmouth area but none of actually live in the city any more, at least it has free parking and no traffic jams. But I can't imagine many people who live in Portsmouth and Southsea bother going up there now they have got Gunwharf.

In defence of Southampton it has the nicest, most well maintained city cente parks of any other South Central coastal town I know. I have lived here for 15 years, but agree that Portsmouth is prob better for shopping.

I have no idea about Southampton centre but absolutely pooped my britches when I got to Southampton Ikea for the first time last weekend - that helter skelter of a car park entrance was enough to put me off my meatballs. I'd been used to the luxury of Croydon and the mega field of a car park there.

The 'twirly wirly'? DD likes that

DH manages drive into the HGV entrance at Ikea without fail

there is nothing nice about southampton , its called scum for a reason .

civic centre clock hasn't stopped chiming!
West Quay is open til about 9 most evenings so that's probably why the rest of town closes down.
you could try going back at about 11pm - there's all of life there then

I am glad it's not just me getting old & miserable . "Fur coat and no knickers" is spot on description of West Quay, it was a bit meh inside I felt.

I agree about the parks in S'oton, they were (and are) beautifully kept but didn't feel safe after shop closing time, and I don't remember them feeling unsafe in 90s. The city did have it's own kind of charm - but now just feels like a shopping experience (and not a terribly good one) with no soul! I loved the old Tyrrell & Green which used to back onto the park. I once tested some Eternity perfume there and went out into the park thinking, ooh those flowers smell good - then realised it was the perfume. I still think of S'oton (as it was then) when I wear Eternity now.

Tommy- does the clock just chime on the hour now? It used to chime every 1/4 hour like a traditional Grandfather clock?

From somehow who's lived in both. They're both equally shit and boring! I now wait and go to Brighton and London

I have not been in the city centre for ages, was thinking of going soon but don't think I will bother now, when I was a teen it was the place to shop , now I just go to Ikea and then come home (maybe I'm just getting old).

I don't like it very much it always seams dirty

But then again I'm a miserable bugger I've even gone off Salisbury recently since they revamped the market square using paving slabs that like to pretend they are a bastarding ice rink!

tbh i find most English towns are like this, they all have the same shops and the same horrible shopping centres that have destroyed the old 'high streets' and some vile town square with puking drunks and a foamy fountain full of shite.
Swindon, Portsmouth. Southampton, Bazzers, Watford, Colchester...they are. all. the. bloody. same.

The new market's horrible in Salisbury. I nearly killed myself walking across in in smooth soled shoes during a rainstorm. The benches they put round it are really stupid looking too.

On a similarish vein can anyone recommend any decent shopping spots in Sussex other than Brighton?

Oh no - at the market square in Salisbury! Sounds horrific.

Oh nooo, I feel like I've been stabbed through the heart Southampton is my home, but I've not lived there for about 6-7 years. I'm so homesick that I've forgotten the shit bits and just remember it as wonderful! But yeah sadly I have to agree that Portsmouth or Basingstoke are better for shopping. Blah!

I'm from that area, between Portsmouth and Southampton. My allegiance lies very much to the East. I've always felt Southampton is soulless compared to Portsmouth. Pompey's John Lewis is great - I worked in it about 10 years ago. And Southsea's better than any part of Southampton.

The only good thing about Salisbury is the new H&M, I don't like the new market square either .

Where is the new Salisbury H&m Marne?