Location Location Location

PinPoint Music is situated at 1e Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hants, England. Named by The Times as one of the most livable cities in England, Eastleigh is a small but thriving town with a vibrant and buzzing town centre. It is approximately 70 miles south of London, near the coast and situated between the major cities of Southampton and Winchester. Of course, it's also only a short journey from other exciting European destinations such as Paris, the Riviera, and Amsterdam!
      Eastleigh is what is known as "a railway town." When the railway system in the UK was more of the thriving monster than it is now, Eastleigh was home to one of premier railway engineering works in the country, employing thousands of people building and refitting engines, rolling stock and carriages. Many of the older homes in the town were first built to provide housing for the many families coming to the area to gain employment at the works. Although the engineering works still exist, the decline and fragmentation of the railway network has meant some considerable downsizing to the workforce.

This statue in Eastleigh recognizes our town's involvement in the UK's railway industry.

     However, it it still remains one of the town's major employers, and has recently been subject to a management buy-out resulting in far greater security for the exisiting workers. Cable-manufacturers Pirelli also have major manufacturing works both in and on the outskirts of the town, whilst Eastleigh is also home to the head offices and/or maufacturing and/or distribution centres of various nationwide businesses such as housebuilders, DIY stores, Spectacle and Contact Lenses, make-up/perfume, Duty-free operators, bread&cakes, and 7-11 stores.
      In 1996, Eastleigh was judged to be high amongst some of very places in England to live and work, and much of this can be put down to its relatively forward-looking town planning and excellent communication links. The town is connected by a fast-track rail network to London and/or the major south coast cities of Southampton, Portsmouth, Poole and Weymouth (all of which represent links via ferry to Europe). The site of the Spitfire's first flight in the 2nd World War, Eastleigh is also privileged to have its own airport (even if Southampton 'steals' it as its own!?!) and subsequent links to many other parts of England together with daily flights to Scotland, the Channel Islands and Europe.

Photo courtesy of Saints Official Website. Click the photo to visit their site.

      Eastleigh has further growth and employment potential coming its way in the year 2000 too!! Local Premiership soccer side, Southampton "Saints" FC, have agreed plans to resite their 25,000 seater stadium to within the Eastleigh town limits. Quite apart from the public leisure facilities, restaurants and office building this will bring, there will also doubtless be even further employment opportunities from its creation.
      Planning applications are also under Eastleigh town hall consideration for the building of one (or more) multiplex cinemas and/or one (or more) supermarkets. These are in addition to the 'regular' number of new office blocks and industrial/light maufacturing buildings that seem to appear each year.

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PinPoint is in close proximity to the rail station (at left, above). Pinpoint also shares the block with two banks (at either end of the row) and a busy newsagent (red fascia).	PinPoint is also just off the high street (in photo above, it's this side of the 3-story brown building at right) where there is a very busy bus station as well as an assortment of shops and businesses.

      In the town centre itself, PinPoint is situated right between the busy bus and rail stations. Although not strictly speaking on the 'high street' it shares it position with many of the major UK banks, a newsagent, an estate agent (realtor), a car DIY centre and a brand-name Opticians franchise. In the non-vehicular precinct (which is but a few steps away) nearby there is a major UK supermarket (Safeways) and other popular stores such as Woolworths and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
      Other major retailers/providers within the town itself include McDonalds, WH Smiths, Burtons Menswear, Littlewoods department store, BWise, Tescos supermarket, Boots, Holland & Barret, Next, Salisburys, and (representing the main element of direct competition for PinPoint within the town) Our Price Music.
      It's true to say that Eastleigh is very much gearing itself up for the next century and getting prepared for the introduction of Southampton FC's new stadium ... the opportunities for growth within the town are encouraging, and succesfully managed and run, there is little reason why PinPoint could not continue to thrive in that scenario either!