The Hornet

Street guide, Chichester

The Hornet is the continuation of East Street beyond the city walls, running eastward towards Portfield. The name is thought to derive from a medieval word for a narrow lane or corner. The street has a distinctive character, with a concentration of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants that gives it a different feel from the chain-dominated city centre streets. Antique shops, second-hand bookshops, and specialist food outlets have established themselves here over the years, and the street has a reputation as the most interesting stretch for browsing in Chichester. The buildings are generally smaller in scale than those on the principal streets, with many dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There is on-street parking along parts of the Hornet, and the pavements are narrow in places. The eastern end merges into Oving Road and the approach to the Portfield roundabout. The street has a loyal following among residents who prefer its independent character.