Moving to or from the Portsmouth area? Make your house move as stress free as possible with our guide to removals Portsmouth.

Be organised – forward planning and list making are the keys to keeping everything under control.    We’ve put together a quick time planner for you so you can prioritise exactly what you need to do when, when you need to get your removals Portsmouth company sorted out, who you need to tell etc.

Your Removals Portsmouth Time Planner

4 to 6 week before move day

• Confirm moving date with estate agents or landlords.
• If you haven’t done it already, book your removal company.  Get written quotes from at least 3 removal firms.  See our removals Portsmouth listing below.
• Get references, check their insurance. Ask if the company offers a discount on a weekday.
• Change of address.  Notify utility companies, telephones, banks, DVLA etc.  See our notification checklist below.
• Book storage if you need it.
• Have a good sort out of all your possessions.  Declutter:- charity shops, ebay, car boot or freecycle – just don’t take it all with you!
• Order your new furniture, carpets, soft furnishing etc if you are having them.
• Book hotel or arrange overnight stay with friends if you aren’t moving in on same day.

2 weeks before move day

• Start packing!  Pack everything non essential as early as possible.  Don’t leave it all until the last minute.  Get boxes well in advance from supermarkets or local shops and save newspapers for wrapping breakables.
• Arrange post forwarding at your local post office.
• Deregister from Doctors, Dentist etc if you are moving out of area.
• Arrange for the kids and pets to be looked after on the day.
• Send out change of address cards
• Finalise your arrangements with your chosen removals Portsmouth company. Give them directions to your new address!

The move week

• Pack a bag for the moving day.  Include essentials like toilet rolls, matches, light bulbs, basic tools, essential phone numbers.
• Keys – sort out transfer of your old and new keys with the estate agent / landlord.
• Parking – If you live in a restricted parking area, make sure the removals Portsmouth van can park outside your house.
• Dismantle furniture, disconnect washing machines, defrost fridge freezer, take down curtains, poles, pictures etc.  It may be that you’ve paid your removals company to do this – but be clear who is responsible for what -don’t assume.
• Clean the house.
• Leave the kettle out until last – moving is thirsty work!

Getting the best out of your removals Portsmouth company

There are plenty of different companies offering removals in the Portsmouth area.  Do your homework and choose the right one.  See our list below.
Let the removals company know the following things to make moving day go as smoothly as possible:

• How much furniture you’re moving, so it can choose the correct sized truck and plan the number of journeys needed between your old and new home
• A rough guess of the amount of boxes the company needs to pack,
• The time you want the removals team to arrive
• Clear instructions and directions to your new property
• Make sure there is a parking space for the removal van
• If there are items of furniture which won’t go through the door always tell the removal firm well in advance
• Give them a plan of where the furniture should go in your new home
• Make a list of your possessions so you can check if you’ve left anything behind

Notification checklist for Removals Portsmouth

Services and utilities

• Water
• Gas
• Electricity
• Telephone
• Post office
• Cable/satellite and internet service providers
• TV/video rental companies
• TV licensing

Financial

• Banks
• Building societies
• Credit card companies
• Council tax department
• National savings and premium bonds
• Your employer
• Insurance companies
• Pension companies
• Inland revenue
• Social security
• Solicitor

Health

• Doctor
• Dentist
• Optician

Motoring

• DVLA
• Breakdown recovery company
• Vehicle registration
• Vehicle insurance

• Others

• Friends and relatives
• Subscriptions
• Milk delivery
• Newsagent
• Sports club
• Library
• Schools/colleges

Removals Portsmouth Companies

Dave Moore Removals & Storage
023 9275 6541
www.dave-moore-removals.com

1st Class Removals Portsmouth
023 9242 6511
www.1stclassremovals.com

Agincourt Removals
07720 839 494?
www.agincourtremovals.co.uk

Budget Removals & Storage of Portsmouth
0800 135 7009
www.budget-removals.org.uk

Londons Classic Removals
07786 151162
www.londonsclassicremovals.com

Man & Van Removals Portsmouth
023 9235 5375
www.removalsportsmouth.com

M J H Removals
023 9269 6579

Heirs Of Portsmouth
023 9237 2285
www.heirsofportsmouth.co.uk

Curtiss & Sons Ltd
023 9265 0576
www.curtissremovals.co.uk

Good luck with your moving day and don’t forget to use our removals Portsmouth checklist!

Looking to buy or rent houses Portsmouth offers something to suit all budgets.  Whether it’s a luxury waterfront apartment, urban terraced housing, modern or Victorian family homes or a supported housing scheme that you’re after, Portsmouth is a great place to settle.

Portsmouth is situated on Portsea Island, a land area of approximately 10 square miles.  The tidal channel separating the city from the mainland is crossed by three road bridges so while Portsmouth remains completely accessible, you are never far from the water giving a unique feel to this city. As a town Portsmouth has existed for over 800 years and is most famous for its naval connections.  The range of housing on offer reflects this steep history.

The beginning of the 19th century saw the first real growth of housing across Portsea Island together with the development of the seaside resort of Southsea to the south of the island.

By the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 the majority of the island land had been used, apart from small areas reserved for military purposes and parks. However due to its military importance as home of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth was attacked heavily during World War Two. This led to many post war housing projects and areas such as Paulsgrove to the north of the island were developed, other large areas of the city were rebuilt.

More recently Portsmouth has undergone heavy investment with redevelopment of waterfront areas such as Gunwharf Quays and planned development of the Northern Quarter on the Old Tricorn Centre site. The mixture of architectural styles is evidence in houses Portsmouth today.

Houses Portsmouth by Area

Portsea

Mostly terraces and flats with some newer property developments such as Admiralty Quarter with luxury apartments ranging from studios to three beds.
Buyers - young professionals and couples wanting to be at the heart of things.

Gunwharf Quays

Plenty of trendy apartments and penthouses with stunning views over the Solent and across to the Isle of Wight.
Buyers – trendy and well-paid professionals after an up-market, ultra-modern apartment

Old Portsmouth

Elegant and well-maintained period four and five storey townhouses and terraces some of which have been converted into flats. Modern apartments and townhouses also blend in well with the older properties.  In the The Inner Camber area by the water’s edge there are lovely 90s-built townhouses, masionettes and flats with privately owned boats moored in the inner marina.
Buyers – Portsmouth’s wealthier inhabitants who want to be fairly close to things without being right in the middle of it.

Southsea

A large residential district, with everything housing-wise.  There are many grand Victorian terraces and townhouses, a large number of which have been converted into flats and guesthouses.
There are also some substantial semi and detached houses near the seafront.  Southsea has a high proportion of terraced homes and converted and purpose built flats.  Somerstown, the council estate to the north of Southsea has a lot of high-rise tower blocks and is considered one of the more deprived parts of the city.
Buyers - Young professionals, buy-to-let investors, and plenty of renting Portsmouth University students.

Eastney

Lots of terraced housing, some semis and detached properties and a few new developments.
Buyers – couples, families with grown-up kids, singletons.

Milton

Mostly terraced housing ranging from large five bedrooms properties to the more common two and three bed varieties.
Some family friendly modern three bed semis and townhouses, plus apartment complexes.
Buyers – Popular with families, first-time buyers and buy-to-let investors who rent to students and hospital staff.

Baffins

Mainly 30s family housing consisting of terraces and semis.
Buyers – mainly families.

Fratton

Mostly terraces and purpose built flats.
Buyers – More deprived so prices are feasible for first-time buyers. Ideal for supporters of Portsmouth FC.

Kingston

Mostly 50s and 60s built post-war housing.
Buyers – ex-council tenants, first-time buyers.

Buckland & Landport

Social housing from the 50s and 60s, mostly narrow terraced homes and purpose-built flats. Includes the Charles Dickens Estate, which has a mix of owner-occupiers and council tenants.
Buyers – first-time buyers, ex-council tenants.

Stamshaw & Tipnor

Terraced housing built for dockyard workers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and former council housing.
Buyers - ex-council tenants and families.

North End

Some semis, flats and flat conversions but mostly late 19th and early 20th century terraces
Buyers – Family orientated and flat conversions are popular with renters.

Copnor

Mostly terraces, some flat conversions.
Buyers – mainly familes.

Hilsea

Terraced housing, detached, semis and flats, both purpose-built and converted. , Modern housing estate in Anchorage Park with townhouses, terraces and apartments.
Buyers – families and first-time buyers, workers at the industrial estates.

Port Solent

Maisonettes, townhouses and apartments set around an attractive marina.
Buyers – fans of waterfront homes with the necessary funds.

Portsmouth Estate Agents

Whether you are planning to buy or rent one of the many houses Portsmouth estate agents are plentiful.  Portsmouth is well served by local and national estate agents.  Here’s a selection:

• Jeffries & Partners
  www.jeffries.co.uk – 023 9236 1111
• Pearsons Estate Agents
  www.pearsons.com – 023 9229 7878
• Your Move
  www.your-move.co.uk – 023 9282 0701
• Braeburn Independent Estate Agents
  www.braeburns.co.uk – 023 9269 1111
• Abba Lettings
  www.abbalettings.co.uk – 07771 922 450
• Cosgroves
  www.cosgroves.co.uk – 023 9282 7827
• Fry & Kent
  www.fryandkent.com – 023 92009800
• Baker & Elder (023) 9388 0092
• Mann Countrywide (023) 9388 0050
• Taylors (023) 9388 0081
• Brewers (023) 9388 0086
• PTF (023) 9388 0131
• Parkinsons (023) 9388 0054
• Fox & Sons (023) 9229 0089
• Waterside Properties (023) 9388 0117
• Chapplins (023) 9388 0078
• Mann Countrywide (023) 9388 0051
• Mitchell & Perryer (023) 9388 0105

Houses Portsmouth Available Now

Also check out the local newspapers in your search for houses Portsmouth:

• The News – published daily with a property special on Wednesdays.
• The Journal  -Portsmouth and Southsea – Free Weekly paper

Good luck in your search for houses Portsmouth!

Portsmouth presents a wealth of opportunities for anyone seeking work.  Home to nearly 7000 businesses across a broad spectrum of sectors, this attractive waterfront city is the perfect place to work and live.

With cutting edge industries, large businesses and specialist companies alike, major sectors of employment include aerospace, marine, ICT, finance, creative and leisure.  Giants such as IBM UK, BAE Systems, BVT, Pall Europe, McLaren Composites and EADS Astrium have all settled in Portsmouth. In recent times, overseas companies from America, Japan and China have come here and expanded their operations across the UK.

Portsmouth is home to one of the largest freight and ferry ports in the UK and this dynamic city still has an important role as a major dockyard and home base for the Royal Navy.

Background to Jobs Portsmouth

Portsmouth has a working population of about 100,000.  40% of these people work for the larger companies (200+ employees).  That said Portsmouth is full of thriving local enterprises with over 80% of companies in the area employing 10 or less employees.

The public administration, education and health sector employs the largest percentage of the local population (34%), followed by distribution, hotels and restaurants (23%), banking finance and insurance (19%) and Engineering and manufacturing (11%).  _{Source Annual Business Inquiry, 2008.}

So what are the current jobs Portsmouth has to offer?  A recent snapshot from the Jobcentre shows the largest number of notified vacancies were in sales & customer services (464 vacancies),  However doesn’t give a true picture of the number of opportunities on offer as the vast majority of jobs are registered with the local employment agencies – see list below.

Major Portsmouth Industries

Aerospace

Portsmouth has a thriving aerospace industry and you can find flagship companies such as EADS Astrium, (employing 1000 people), Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, Meggitt Avionics, TÜV Product Service, Vector Aerospace and Eaton.

Marine

Portsmouth has centuries of maritime history primarily through its role as Britain’s premier naval base.

Today’s marine sector comprises:

• defence marine
• recreational marine
• transport marine
• fisheries marine

In total over 13,300 people work in 800 organisations for the city region.

Major marine companies currently based in Portsmouth include BAE Systems, QinetiQ, McMurdo, Brittany Ferries, Premier Marinas, Rolls-Royce, Sunsail, Raymarine, Wightlink and VT Shipbuilding who recently brought shipbuilding back to the city.

ICT and Creative Jobs Portsmouth

Portsmouth has a vibrant ICT sector.  Home to established companies such as IBM, and new and growing companies in sectors of digital media and computer gaming  such as Novatech and Climax.

Similarly there’s been a surge in the creative industries associated with digital media.

Retail

Portsmouth has an extensive retail sector which includes the City Centre, Southsea, Gunwharf Quays and numerous district centres.  The City Centre Redevelopment programme with the North harbour rebuild in planning will extend the portfolio further in the coming years.

Jobs Portsmouth – Recruitment Agencies

With many major recruitment firms offering both general and specialist jobs Portsmouth has plenty of choices to offer in your search for employment.  We’ve listed some of the major recruitment companies below:

Good luck in your hunt for jobs Portsmouth.

South West Jobs RSS Feed

• Multiskilled Electrician
• HR Senior Global Employment Officer
• Senior Helpdesk Assistant
• Business Development Coordinator
• Analyst (12-month FTC)
• SPCR Nursing Commercial Fellowship
• Operations Assistant
• Research Fellow in Global Musculoskeletal Ageing
• Wellbeing Practitioner
• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in AI and Marketing Analytics
• Finance Assistant
• Technician
• Lecturer in Psychology of Education
• Research Associate or Senior Research Associate in Water Systems Modelling
• Senior Head Chef
• Teaching & Research Technician
• Senior Lecturer in Building Information Modelling
• Research Associate in Neuroscience of Sleep and Trauma
• Senior Tutor (Lecturer) - Business School
• Lecturer in MSc Expedition and Marine Medicine

It’s no exaggeration to say that Gunwharf Quays really has something for everyone.  Shopping, eating, leisure or just a great day out, all tastes are catered for at this outstanding venue on the south coast.

Built on old naval site right next to Old Portsmouth and the Historic Dockyard,  Gunwharf Quays cleverly mixes an exciting blend of old and new.  Opening up this part of the picturesque Portsmouth Harbour to the public after 300 years, visitors get so much more than a shopping or eating experience.

With over 95 designer outlets, 30 places to eat for all tastes and budgets, the breathtaking Spinnaker Tower, a multiplex cinema, bowling, a hotel and some great bars and clubs, Gunwharf Quays brings visitors back again and again.

How to get there

Gunwharf Quays couldn’t be easier to get to.  Situated next to the Hard – the main bus terminal for the city, Portsmouth Harbour railway station and the Gosport and Isle of Wight ferry terminals, it’s accessible to everyone.  The award winning underground car park holds over 1500 cars and with easy routes and clear sign-posting in from the major roads, driving there couldn’t be more stress free.

See our interactive map at the bottom of the page for more information.

Gunwharf Quays Opening Hours

Gunwharf shops are open:

Bars, restaurants & leisure facilities are all open 7 days & nights a week.

Gunwharf Quays Shops

Gunwharf is famous for its fabulous range of outlet shops giving you designer and household names at discount prices.

Get your fashion fix with the likes of Gap, Hobbs, LK Bennett, Next, Karen Millen, Fat Face, White Stuff, Calvin Kline and Marks & Spencer’s.  Sporting goods and clothing are plentifully served with brands such as Nike, Adidas, O’Neill, Trespass, Animal, Ripcurl and Timberland.  Grab some bargains for the little ones from Gap, Next and Clarkes and finish your outfit with a great choice of shoes, accessories and health and beauty shops.

Beyond fashion there are some fantastic places to kit out your home and pander to your hobbies.  Homewares, electronics, sports and travel are all catered for with names such as Denby’s, Villeroy & Boch, Donnay International, Mountain Warehouse, Bose and Carphone Warehouse.

If you’re looking for a gift for someone special, then Gunwharf is the perfect destination.  Jewellery, perfumes, chocolates, books, music and cards – you’re spoilt for choice with shops ranging from Thornton’s, Crabtree & Evelyn, Claires, Paperchase, L’Occitane to HMV.

Gunwharf Quay Restaurants

Before, during and after a hard day’s shopping, what more excuse do you need for a bit of R&R at one of the amazing selection of waterfront restaurants?  Whether its fast food or fine dining, day time or a night out, you really can’t find a better choice of culinary delights anywhere on the South Coast.

Fast food and refreshment stops come in the shape of Burger King, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, Café Nero, Yo Sushi, Tower Café/Bar and The Italian Kitchen among others.

As for restaurants, the possibilities are endless….fine dining, brasseries, pizzerias, Asian, European.  Choose from the likes of Loch Fyne, Water Margin, Pizza Express, Tiger Tiger, Wagamama, Brasserie Blanc, Nandos and Azzurro to name but a few.

Gunwharf Quays Leisure

Whether you’re looking for a way to entertain the kids or a chance to dance the night away, Gunwharf Quays has it all.  Bowlplex and Vue Cinema’s are resident here alongside Twenty4Seven Fitness Gym and Aspex Art Gallery.  And you’re right at the heart of one of most famous landmarks on the South Coast – The Spinnaker Tower.  Enjoy breathtaking views across the Solent day and night.

On top of this Gunwharf are always holding special events for all the family from Christmas Fayres to Summer Beach activities, Mountain Bike Displays to Musical Festivals.

Situated on the water the Gunwharf Marina is home to boats of all shapes and sizes.  As well as regular events and major races taking place from here, you can experience your own “Fun on the Water” with powerboats rides available.

And finally, what better way to end your visit, with a night out at this stunning location in one of the great bars or clubs such as Tiger Tiger Night Club or Highlight Comedy Club.

Gunwharf Quays Accommodation

The best news of all is you can stumble out of the shops or off the dance floor into the Express by Holiday Inn.  The 130-bedroom hotel is in the heart of Gun Wharf, no taxis, no hassle.  And if you really love it that much here, you can always stay for good!  There’s a host of amazing houses and apartments to rent or buy, with the new landmark “Lipstick Tower” the crowing glory of Gunwharf.

Do you need any more excuses!!!  Make Gunwharf Quays your destination of choice.

View Larger Map