Havant Town Centre

Havant town centre is the historic and commercial heart of the Borough of Havant in south-east Hampshire. The old town grew up around the crossroads of West Street, East Street, North Street and South Street, with the parish church of St Faith's — parts of which date from the early 13th century — standing at its centre. Havant received the right to hold a market in 1200, when the monks of Winchester Cathedral were granted a charter to hold a market at "Haveunte".

## Shopping in Havant Town Centre

The main shopping area is Meridian Shopping (formerly the Meridian Centre), a covered precinct just off West Street. Around it, the pedestrianised West Street and the Market Parade precinct hold a mix of independent shops, national chains, cafes, banks and takeaways. A street market is held in the town centre, and the surrounding streets keep much of the character of the old market town that survived the great fire of 1760.

## Eating and Drinking

The town centre has a strong choice of independent cafes and restaurants — from tearooms and brunch spots on North Street and West Street to long-standing Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean kitchens around Market Parade. Traditional pubs including the Old House at Home on South Street and the Robin Hood by St Faith's churchyard sit within a few minutes' walk of each other.

## Getting Around

Havant railway station is a short walk north of the centre and is a significant junction: it has direct services to London Waterloo, Portsmouth, Chichester, Brighton, Guildford and Southampton Central, and connects the Portsmouth Direct and West Coastway lines. The town is also served by frequent bus routes and sits close to the A3(M) and A27.

## History

Havant's natural springs once powered what was described as the premier parchment-making works in southern England, which operated until 1936; Havant parchment was reputedly used for important documents. Roman remains have been found near St Faith's Church and in Langstone Avenue, and the Domesday Book of 1086 recorded Havant as a village of around 100 people.