A new store specialising in African, Middle Eastern and South Asian produce has opened in Portswood on the corner of Brookvale and Portswood roads, next door to Waitrose. People were queuing to enjoy free food samples from a pink van outside on Friday lunchtime.

Originally a car showroom, video rental store Blockbuster finally closed at the site in 2013. It was later used by grocery and alcohol delivery service Gorillas for about a year until 2022. Squatters reportedly moved into the site in 2023 for five months, which has now been transformed into gleaming foodstore Al Barakah.