'Different atmosphere' as Castle Road businesses embrace new look

Businesses on Castle Road are singing the praises of their new “community high street/village square” after pedestrianisation works transformed the street.

The famously quaint Southsea road, which links Elm Grove with Southsea Common and the seafront, has been given a new paved surface as part of the project.

Castle Road, which was voted Portsmouth’s “best dressed” street, was first partly pedestrianised in 2020 to allow for social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

After six years without through traffic, councillors and members of the Castle Road Community Association (CRCA) officially unveiled the completed scheme in March, cutting the ribbon on a level-paved brick surface featuring a central walkway, planters and trees designed to create a more open, attractive space.

The works were carried out through a partnership between Portsmouth City Council and the CRCA using central government funding.

Steve Tyacke, chairperson of the CRCA, said that four months after the project was unveiled there is a “different atmosphere” on the road, with it becoming more of a “casual walkthrough” for passers-by.

“People seem to be taking their time wandering down with their kids, the planters make it look wonderful, it’s a place we hope people will come to for business, to buy things but also to just see because there’s a lot of history on the road.”

He said the association is trying to get “more art into the road”, with proposed arches at both ends creating a “Carnaby Street type feel” alongside more street art and mosaic threshold projects outside shops to not only “bring little details into the street” but also “enhance the fabric of the building”.

Pete Codling, a local artist and CRCA member who helped design the project, said part of the thinking was to take “a residential approach to slowing things down”, encouraging people to treat the street as a destination rather than simply a route through.

He described Castle Road as a “little gem”, saying its mix of bespoke independent businesses and long-established traders creates a “sense of mixture community high street village square”, which is “quite unique and hard to find”.

He said people have been visiting “out of curiosity”, particularly since a new bus stop was introduced on Southsea Terrace.

He also welcomed the growing café culture, with businesses making full use of the extra space for outdoor tables and chairs.

Community events have also helped attract visitors, including a recent antiques market and an “old school fete” featuring Morris dancers and live music.

Another indirect benefit of the scheme, he said, is encouraging “distant landlords” to “raise their game”, with a “rash of scaffolding” appearing after the works were completed.

As the local resident artist on the road, he said: “My rent doubled, bit of gentrification isn’t always a good thing as an artist.”

Neil Shaw, managing director of estate agents Chinneck Shaw, which has been based on Castle Road for three years, said the street was already “great”, “quirky” and “indy”, with the pedestrianisation adding to its appeal.

He said more dog walkers are choosing to pass through the road on their way to the Common because it has “become even nicer” and is “pleasing on the eye”.

“I definitely feel that since this work has been done there are more people that are ambling through.”

While he has not noticed the improvements affecting business “tangibly”, he said they “promote this sense of goodwill about the area and maybe some point in the future that translates into business”.

He also speculated that nearby property prices could rise as “pleasant places demand higher rents and higher prices”.

David Evans, owner of Brocante Antiques, said the works have sparked a “resurgence” on the road.

“Altogether it’s been a resounding success for us,” he said. “We find such a better atmosphere for people you walk through, families, it’s got a pleasant aura about it.

“If there’s any event going on in the common we get hordes of people come through.”

He said he organised a recent antiques market on 23 and 24 May, where “I filled it up with 20 traders both days and they loved the ambience”.

He added he “couldn’t wish for a better community down here, everybody looks out for everybody else”.

He said the road has become a collective of artisans, with pottery studios and galleries creating a creative hub.

Belinda Delaney, of Delaney’s Bistro, said the works were “a long time coming” as “a lot of people waiting in anticipation”.

“It’s a much nicer feel all over, we had six years with just a road that wasn’t being used.

“It’s not necessarily brought tons and tons of people but people are finding out about it.”

She said the bistro had a tables-and-chairs licence before the works, but its outdoor seating area has become “more pleasurable to sit out there in the nice surroundings”.

She added she hopes someone takes over the former Zafraan restaurant, previously Monty’s, to bring “more people out onto the road” and create a more vibrant café culture.

Tristan Savage, of Strong Island Clothing Co, moved his business from Marmion Road last August.

He said the new-look street is “beautiful, which is great, but that doesn’t necessarily count to more footfall for businesses”.

He added that footfall is “really good” during the summer but leaves a lot to be desired between January and March.

He said traders have to find different ways to attract customers, pointing to his mezzanine space above the shop floor, which has been used as an office, exhibition space, photography studio, coffee pop-ups and meeting space.

Lorraine Randell, of Revive Interiors, has traded from her current Castle Road shop for 11 years.

She said that while the works have made the road “a nicer place to be”, she was “very sceptical before it happened” because traffic would no longer pass through.

She has since changed her mind, saying people who have to park elsewhere tend to stay longer than the one-hour on-street parking limit that previously applied on Castle Road.

She added: ” a bit of a downturn in business but that’s across the board for every business, I could never put that down to the road being closed.”

Local St Thomas ward councillor Mark Jeffery said he’s “pleased with the work and positive response form local businesses”.

“It took us a number of years to get the funding together and there was quite a big confrontation with local residents and the businesses there so it took a while to come together but the result is really positive.

“Castle Road has always been a nice street but it looks really vibrant and interesting now – you wish it could happen in more places.”