Southampton is home to many shops and restaurants but a quick question to Daily Echo readers has revealed a desire from residents to see more independent outlets.
Residents and visitors in Southampton have been sharing their views on how the city's offering could be improved.
Attracting more independent businesses that are not connected to wider chains was a priority for several people.
Alastair Walford, a 19-year-old student from Totton, said he would like to see “more alternative shops such as an HMV or a skate shop, just shops that help people express themselves and help bring out that inclusiveness of Southampton”.
Kate Little Phoenix Bruce is also calling for “more independent restaurants without the rent and overheads pricing them out”.
Speaking on Facebook, she said: “It would be nice to have an authentic Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant and a Moroccan one.”
Fellow Facebook user Alice Christina says Southampton needs “more independent and interesting shops, not the same old chains!”
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Meanwhile, Laurence Lab said he wanted to see independent places to eat all over the city, not just in Westquay.
“It would be nice if people still ate in independent restaurants, not the new Westquay chain quarter,” he said.
A 79-year-old woman who spoke to the Echo while shopping at Westquay was critical of the quality of Southampton’s restaurants.
She said: “I don’t think we have got very much in the way of restaurants in Southampton now.”
She said she was “not very impressed” by the restaurants, branding the shopping centre's food hall “pretty grim”.
The retiree said she missed Pret A Manger, a feeling echoed by others.
Andy Jackson, also a big Pret fan, commented on Facebook: “Bring back Pret A Manger! Best coffee and sandwiches.”
Chris Zardis wanted to see a wider variety of restaurants and cafés including “a proper Greek bakery” or a French bakery.
“I do like the Romanian one and Communibakes but the more baked goods the better,” he said.
Wendy’s, Uniqlo or Cinnabon were also mentioned as exciting additions that could revitalise Southampton city centre.
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