Economic pressures have impacted quite a few establishments in 2026, seeing a few places sadly shut their doors.
However, despite the circumstances, quite a few have bucked the trend to offer something new.
Here are seven businesses that have opened up in Southampton and its surrounding areas in 2026.
5 businesses in Southampton and Fareham that have opened in 2026
Mother Hubbard’s
Mother Hubbard’s Famous Fish and Chips opened on Shirley High Street back in January.
It was founded in Bradford in 1972 and has since grown into one of the UK’s largest fish and chip franchises, with dozens of shops operating nationwide.
Siblings Rajdeep Kaur and Tony Singh own the shop, which is open seven days a week from 11am until 11pm.
Rajdeep and Tony live in Andover but said they felt Southampton was the right place to open the shop after visiting the area regularly for shopping.
They added: “Fish and chips is a traditional food, and we feel like this area doesn’t have a proper fish and chip shop.”
On the shop’s opening day, the first 1,000 customers were able to get portions for 45p, reflecting the price they were sold at back in 1972.
Pan Asian Plaza
Pan Asian Plaza opened up at the Marlands Centre in March, taking over a 1,600-square-metre unit on the first floor.
The buffet restaurant offers a wide range of cuisines, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai and Indian dishes.
The space is divided into dedicated sections, with chefs assigned to each area and specialising in the cuisine they are cooking.
It is owned by Xin Jin, who said he wanted to bring some of the dishes he enjoyed growing up to Southampton, alongside familiar Chinese takeaway favourites.
The Fox
Over in Fair Oak, The Fox reopened at the start of February after having to shut down at the end of 2025.
Formerly called The Fox and Hounds, the pub poured its final pint on December 31 after its owners said they felt unable to continue running the business.
New owners came in quickly, though, and announced they were changing the name to simply ‘The Fox’.
The pub has live music every Saturday, meat raffle and Chase the Ace every Sunday, bingo nights including Beatz Bingo and sport on TV.
Sostrene Grene
Sostrene Grene opened up a new branch at the Whiteley Shopping Centre in March (Image: Sostrene Grene)
The Scandinavian brand Sostrene Grene opened a new branch at the Whiteley Shopping Centre back in March.
The homeware chain also has two other Hampshire stores in Basingstoke and Winchester.
The first 100 customers who arrived at the store on its opening day received a voucher for a Sostrene Grene woollen throw and free canvas tote bags filled with products were also available.
Ahead of the brand opening, Centre manager at Whiteley Shopping Centre, Mia Gordon, said: “It’s always fantastic to see the buzz when a much-anticipated brand opens its doors, and we’re looking forward to building on that momentum throughout 2026, with plenty happening across the centre for visitors to enjoy this year.”
The Round Coppice
The Round Coppice opened in Fareham in April (Image: Gill Evans)
The newest opening at the time of writing is for The Round Coppice, a JD Wetherspoon pub.
This opened on Tuesday, April 7, at the Whiteley Shopping Centre.
Wetherspoon has invested £1.3m in transforming the former Jurassic Grill restaurant into the new venue.
The pub features a ten-metre bar, new furniture, and a bespoke carpet, along with historical photos and a 708 sq ft beer garden.
Ahead of the pub opening, manager Lucy Dempsey said: “Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers into The Round Coppice and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to the local social scene.”
What’s been your favourite new business to open in Southampton and Fareham so far in 2026? Let us know in the comments.