Move over Kingstons Motor Spares. At just 80 years old that Portswood business is a youngster compared to Strides which opened as a sweetshop & tobacconist in 1908, giving it 100 years of continuous trading this year
The Stride family bought the shop from The Boswicks 50 years ago and 2 ½ years ago sold it to the current owners, although several members of The Stride family can still be seen behind the counter.
The business is in the parade of shops that stretches from the HSBC Bank (corner of Westridge Road) to the Amusement Arcade (next to the Mecca Bingo), which is known as Portswood Broadway.
Strides is still a sweet shop and tobacconist after all this time, and stocks a large range of both products.
So is this the oldest business in Portswood? Kingstons has 80 years trading under the same name, but Strides has 100 years on the same site, under two names. 
Do you know a Portswood business than can beat this? Or do you have memories of Strides/Boswicks in days gone by? If so, please let us know.