Botley Road Centre

Hedge End's main shopping and services strip along the busy Botley Road

The commercial heart of Hedge End, running along Botley Road between the junction with St John's Road and the approaches to Botley. This is the town's main shopping and services area, with a mix of independent shops, takeaways, cafes, a post office, estate agents, hairdressers and other service businesses. The Bald Forester pub stands on the road, and the Berry Theatre is nearby, making this the closest thing Hedge End has to a town centre. The area has a busy, functional character, with traffic passing through on the main road throughout the day. Residential streets lead off Botley Road on both sides, and the area serves as the de facto high street for Hedge End, even though it lacks a traditional pedestrianised centre or market square. The Berry Theatre, opened in 2010, has added a cultural dimension to the area, providing a venue for performances, cinema and community events. The proximity of the railway station on Station Road makes the Botley Road centre convenient for commuters. The shops and services here cover the everyday needs of the community, from groceries and prescriptions to haircuts and hot drinks.