The Gunwharf Quays Shopping Centre was opened on 28 February 2001 and is located on the site of the former Royal Navy shore establishment, HMS Vernon.
Reflected in the canal feature, this twenty-nine storey storey skyscraper has the title Number One, also known as Lipstick Tower, and was built to resemble a funnel.
The main shopping centre is off picture to the left. This view is looking east-north-east along the canal towards the tower. This is the dramatic final stage of the Gunwharf Quays development. Rising to nearly 100 metres and comprising 29 storeys affording spectacular panoramic views over Portsmouth, the harbour and the Solent, No.1 Gunwharf Quays is, for now, the tallest residential skyscraper on the South Coast of England. See details here:
Link
Gunwharf Quays is Portsmouth's newest shopping area, part of the Portsmouth Harbour regeneration project. Situated on the former home of HMS Vernon, it is home to about ninety shops and designer retail outlet stores including a Ralph Lauren outlet, twenty bars and restaurants, (many on the waterfront), a 26 lane Bowlplex a fourteen screen cinema and waterside apartments and housing developments.
Gunwharf Quays gets its name from its use from the late 17th century, when it was the main ordnance supply depot for the Royal Navy in Portsmouth. It was from this site that ships loaded their weapons, cannon balls and gunpowder before leaving Portsmouth Harbour. HMS Victory would have collected her weapons and munitions here before leaving to fight at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Link
The many bars, cafés and restaurants located by the waterfront allow a view of shipping movements into and out of Portsmouth Harbour.