Festival Palace Basingstoke secures Next as new anchor, adds Skechers

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Feb 22, 2017

Regional Hampshire shopping centre Festival Place Basingstoke has boosted its retail offer with the signing of Skechers, which will be taking a 2,800 sq ft unit, and the opening of a new anchor store for Next.

The British high street brand has doubled the size of its previous space with a 48,000 sq ft flagship. It showcases the brand’s fashion, childrenswear and home ranges, as well as its Lipsy sub-brand, and joins other anchor stores Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.

The improved retail line-up is part of an ambitious plan to rejuvenate the shopping centre following its acquisition by AEW Europe in December 2015.

Festival Place is undergoing a major refurbishment programme, which entails the introduction of a new public real and double height shop facades in St. John’s Square, as well as the upgrade of other spaces.

AEW is also planning to significantly improve the casual dining offer, with the introduction of additional F&B occupiers to Queen Anne's Walk, currently the premium pitch in the centre. 

And the 10-screen Vue Cinema is set to introduce its luxurious Vue Recliner seating in spring 2017.

"We're fulfilling our promise to our customers to improve Festival Place, and, after just over a year since acquisition, substantial changes can be seen throughout. Next's new anchor store looks great, and will act as a catalyst for investment in the centre, attracting further retail and F&B occupiers, “ said Russell Jewell, Head of Private Equity Funds at AEW.

Festival Place Basingstoke is North Hampshire's prime retail and leisure destination, and was ranked in the top 20 list of best shopping centres in the UK by Trevor Wood Associates.

With more than 200 shops and restaurants, including Superdry, Zara, Apple, River Island, New Look and H&M, Festival Palace attracts 20 million people annually.