Debenhams

Commercial Road's landscape has significantly changed over the years - but Portsmouth City Council is working towards getting it back on track with a multi-million pound regeneration scheme. It is hoped that the new improvements made will encourage businesses to set up in the high street.

Pictured: British Gas, Priceless and other shops in Commercial Road in 1998.
Picture: Michael Scaddan

High hopes regeneration schemes will revitalise the high street

A CGI image of a 38-storey tower planned for the former Debenhams in Portsmouth City Centre

Developer behind skyscraper for city centre Debenhams says project on track

A CGI image of a 38-storey tower planned for the former Debenhams in Portsmouth city centre
Picture: Phil Salmon, Consultant Town Planner

Planning application for Debenhams withdrawn

Retailers along with banks, bars and restaurants have been really struggling over the last decade, with a rise in internet shopping said to be the key contributor in the high street’s decline.

10 major stores to close for good in further blow for UK high street

Some of the projects being planned around Portsmouth

Building projects planned for around Portsmouth - in pictures

Graffiti-covered boards across the entrance to the former Debenhams shop in Arundel Street

Pictures of a rundown Arundel Street in Portsmouth city centre

Debenhams, Palmerston Road, Southsea. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (110419-60)

Debenhams building could be bought by council to kickstart redevelopment plans

Debenhams in Palmerston Road, Southsea Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Council threatens to buy Debenhams after 'losing patience' with owner

A CGI image of a 38-storey tower planned for the former Debenhams in Portsmouth City Centre

Submitted on December 12, 2022 by Phil Salmon, Consultant Town Planner

Further details revealed on plan for 38-storey Debenhams skyscraper

A CGI of the proposed redevelopment. Picture: Phil Salmon Ltd

Old Debenhams store could be transformed into the first skyscraper in the city

Debenhams, Palmerston Road, Southsea. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Plans to move GP practice and dentist surgery into former Debenhams are delayed

How Debenhams in Southsea could look. Picture: National Regional Property Group

Negotiations continue over sale of old Debenhams store

Portsmouth's Guildhall clock tower is set to go back an hour due to the end of British Summer Time(BST) this October.

Here is when the clocks will go forward

Ellie Parsley (19) from Portsmouth skating on the ice rink in Guildhall Square. Picture: Sarah Standing (221119-2040)

Exact date when ice rink will close in Portsmouth

The closed House of Fraser in Middlesbrough town centre on March 23, 2021. Picture by Shutterstock

'You can never go back' is a cliché for a good reason | Matt Mohan-Hickson

Vito Lounge, West Street, Fareham.

Dish Detective Review: Vito Lounge, Fareham
What can be done with the dying high street?

Crowds joining in with the singing. Picture: Mike Cooter (181121)

16 best photos from the Christmas light switch-on in Portsmouth

How Debenhams in Southsea could look. Picture: National Regional Property Group

Final approval given for 134 flats at former Debenhams store

We Create market, former Debenhams site, Palmerston Rd, Southsea
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (120920-06)

Disused Sainsbury's in Portsmouth to be used for We Create market

Bonfire and fireworks display in Cosham at the King George V playing fields, November 6, 2019.
Picture: Habibur Rahman

Anyone else forgotten how to talk to strangers? | Matt Mohan-Hickson

Online retailer Boohoo acquired Debenhams for £55 million in January this year (Photo: Getty Images)

Debenhams set for high street return with new standalone ‘beauty store’

Whoamirony's mural outside the old Debenhams in Portsmouth in Landscape.

Artist behind Southsea mural 'wants to do more' street art in Portsmouth

Whoamirony's mural outside the old Debenhams in Portsmouth in Landscape.

All we know about the street artist behind the Southsea mural

Whoamirony's mural outside the old Debenhams in Portsmouth in Landscape.

Here's where you can see a spectacular new mural in Southsea

Mark Abrams and Will Lancaster at his new apprentice at Interpro Technology Solutions. Photo by Matthew Clark

IT firm takes on apprentice hired by MD from till at Debenhams

Gap has announced plans to close all of its UK stores (Getty)

Gap to close all UK and Ireland stores and go online-only

Owner Shaun Carter with his children, Theo, 2, and Olivia, 8, who cut the ribbon. Opening of Milton Perk Coffee House, Milton Rd. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 190621-05)

Look inside Portsmouth's newest coffee shop
A businessman has opened up a new coffee shop in the exact same spot where his parents once owned a fruit and veg store.

Fashion chain Gap set to axe 19 UK and Ireland stores

NCP car park in Crasswell Street, Portsmouth has a 3 star rating on Google based on 84 reviews.

Portsmouth's best and worst places to park

Shaun Carter plans to open Milton Perk Coffee House on the corner of Meon Rd and Milton Rd, in early June
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 040521-17)

New cafe destined for Milton after owner loses job with Debenhams

M&S is targeting 30 more closures in the “next phase” of its transformation plan (Photo: Getty Images)

Marks and Spencer closing 30 more stores after suffering £201m loss amid pandemi...

The closed Debenhams store in Commercial Road. Picture: Steve Deeks

Final Debenhams stores shut as chain’s 243-year history ends

The company collapsed amid the fallout of the pandemic (Photo: Getty Images)

Debenhams closing final 28 stores today as 243-year history comes to end

Debenhams. Commercial Rd, Portsmouth
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (161220-33)

'Exciting' plans to demolish former Debenhams could 'kick start' regeneration in...

Debenhams. Commercial Rd, Portsmouth
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (161220-33)

New development on Debenhams site Portsmouth city centre could include shops and...

Debenhams in Commercial Road, Portsmouth
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (161220-36)

What next for Portsmouth city centre as Debenhams set to close?

Debenhams in Fareham Shopping Centre Picture: Malcolm Wells (190508-8488)

Debenhams in Fareham closes with remaining stores to follow

Debenhams reveals final closing dates for UK stores as retail giant launches 80%...

The Schuh shoe store in Commercial Road, photographed at 10.20pm on March 25. Picture: Richard Lemmer

7 shops pictured leaving lights on overnight in Portsmouth

Mike Yeoman waiting to get his haircut outside Bob the Barbershop, Albert Road Picture: Habibur Rahman

Recap updates as shoppers faced long queues as lockdown eased

Covid marshals in West Street, Fareham

Fareham shoppers return and show absence makes the heart grow fonder

Primark store in Commercial Road, Portsmouth. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Primark to open with extended hours in Portsmouth

Debenhams is reopening 97 stores in closing down sale - here's how to get discou...

Debenhams in Fareham Shopping Centre
Picture: Malcolm Wells (190508-8488)

Debenhams in Fareham will reopen on Monday for a closing-down sale

Almost 190,000 retail jobs have been lost since shops first closed their doors last year due to the Covid pandemic (Photo: Shutterstock)

Almost 190,000 UK retail jobs lost since first Covid lockdown - according to new...

Burton in Gosport High Street
Picture: Sarah Standing (080221-2526)

Big high street names Dorothy Perkins, Burton and Wallis to close stores

Aldi has put out a call for staff who lost their jobs after the sale of the Arcadia and Debenhams retail empires to apply for newly created roles across the UK.

The budget supermarket chain aims to create 4,000 jobs across the country as part of a two year £1.3 billion investment, and is welcoming applications from those recently let go by Arcadia and Debenhams.

Kelly Stokes, Recruitment Director at Aldi UK, said: “We are currently opening an average of one new store a week.

“That means finding around 4,000 new Aldi colleagues this year and, if we can do that while also helping those who have recently lost out due to closures elsewhere, we will do.”

Aldi hopes to offer long term retail roles to thousands of people who have lost their job as a result of the recent collapse of the two high street giants' physical retail presence.

The German supermarket is the UK’s fifth largest supermarket with over 900 stores in the country.

How to apply

Those looking to apply or hunting for more information on the new jobs can visit aldirecruitment.co.uk

Once on the website, you can browse various career options, as well as see the roles open in stores around the UK. To find the jobs closest to you, click the ‘Find an Aldi job near me’ button.
(Photo: Shutterstock)

Aldi is calling on Arcadia and Debenhams staff to take up 4,000 new jobs - how t...

Commercial Road in Portsmouth

Research shows residents want diversity and variety in city centre

The New Theatre Royal, in Guildhall Walk.

Council set to buy theatre to protect the arts

Debenhams. Commercial Rd, Portsmouth
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (161220-34)

Business secretary urged to 'intervene' after Debenhams is sold in £55m deal

Boohoo buys Debenhams brand and website for £55m - but all stores will close

Debenhams in Palmerston Road, Southsea, before it closed in January 2020. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (110419-72)

Plans to turn Debenhams in Portsmouth into 134 homes to be decided

Debenhams is permanently shutting 6 more UK stores with loss of 320 jobs - the l...

Paperchase

High street chain in trouble - as lockdown closures hammer sales

Debenhams. Commercial Rd, Portsmouth
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (161220-33)

Debenhams in Portsmouth confirms store's closure