Portsmouth shops: 13 empty shops in and around Commercial Road - including U-Need-Us and Debenhams

The Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and the cost of living crisis have also played a part in pushing shops to close and businesses to fail. Commercial Road remains one of Portmouth’s shopping hot-spots, but the high street has changed dramatically over the years. From long-standing businesses such as U-Need-Us – which shut in 2019 after nearly 96 years – to more recent closures like Geek Retreat, there are a striking number of vacant units in the city centre.

We’ve put together a list of shop buildings which are currently sit vacant or awaiting development.

NOW READ: 14 shops we have loved and lost over the years including on Commercial Road, Cascades and Palmerston Road

Here are 13 shops on Commercial Road that are currently empty: