Huge Tesco supermarket, which looks as though it should be an out-of-town store, but occupying a prime location on Hove's Church Road, adjacent to Hove's old parish church of St Andrew.
The store is unmissable, not only because of its size, but because of its uncompromising glass-box architecture, with a long portico supported on 'Y'-shaped columns. At night, when lit up, it dominates the streetscape. As architecture, it certainly doesn't even try to fit into its surroundings of Victorian Hove or the mediaeval St Andrew's.
As befits a store of its size, the facilities - besides the acres of shelves - are extensive, with a delicatessen, fish counter, cash machine, customer toilets, baby-changing facilities and coffee shop. They also have Asian, Kosher, Polish and Afro-Caribbean food sections. The store is fully accessible with step-free access and a large car-park to the rear.
There is no doubt that it is a very convenient store for a town centre location, but I wish its architecture could have been more sympathetic to the surroundings. read more