Why are we based in Southampton!?
Nested in the middle of the south coast of England, sits Southampton; an up and coming city that has recently been voted as the most economical city in England and is also one of the best places to live and work in the UK. Here at GottaBe!, we are immensely proud to hold our headquarters in this fun and exciting city and having been here for ten years now, we want to tell everyone why Southampton is so important.
Home to two very different and unique universities, Southampton has many reasons to thank the University of Southampton and Solent University as they have both brought income and revenue to the city. This is because they bring huge amounts of people and money through business and students. Having two universities has also raised awareness to students and parents, and has also created numerous jobs. The institutions also show to potential visitors that there is more to Southampton that the ports and docks.
The next reason that Southampton is so wonderful is the copious amount of history and culture the city holds. The Southampton Docks has waved bon voyage to many famous cruise liners including The Titanic which set off on its maiden voyage in 1912. Down by the docks, you can also see the famous walls that protected the city during many wars and go on a tour around them and visit the Southampton museum of Archaeology. There are other museums featured around the city including the Sea City Museum and the Tudor House on Bugle Street. Anyone looking to visit the theatre is also in luck, as we are home to The Mayflower (derived from the ship), which is one of the primary venues in the country, attracting West Ends productions after they leave London and the Nuffield which focuses on smaller and niche pieces.
Southampton is also a great town for those with a keen interest in sport, being home to The Saints’ St. Mary’s Stadium, which also creates a great deal of revenue by attracting approximately 30,000 fans to the city, every match day. This is great for any catering or hospitality business in the area, as many people will visit them to have a drink or a bite to eat. There are also a variety of sports clubs in the city, including Southampton Rugby Club which is offered to men and women and is situated at Test Park Sports Facility in Millbrook.
Following this, Southampton offers an extremely versatile nightlife where there is something for everyone. Ranging from nightclubs such as Oceana and Switch through to The Hobbit in Portswood, a Lord of the Rings themed pub. Alongside this, there are a selection of microbreweries in the city including, London Road Brewhouse in Bedford Place and The Dancing Man in the Old Town, each offering their own unique product with very friendly staff. If you fancy a bite to eat after a pint, you will find a wealthy option of restaurants across the city. From The Watermark (new Westquay), which offers the classic chains of restaurants, through to the little family run restaurants in the Old Town and Bedford Place, there is an eatery for everyone!
Despite being a city, Southampton offers a large variety of green space; in the centre, you will find 5 parks, and further up The Avenue, there is the famous Common. What makes the common so special is the way it is home to 26 acres of woodland and open spaces at the heart of Southampton, including its own wildlife centre. This is a great place to relax and unwind if you fancy getting out of the hustle and bustle of the city for a while.
To sum up, Southampton is a great place to live and work in, considering everything is has to offer. Despite the large variety of traffic lights and busy appearance, Southampton is actually a small community and 98% of the time, you will bump into someone you know either walking to the shop or on a night out. We call it home and we wouldn’t change it for anything.