Festival Place boosts retailer line-up
Festival Place in Basingstoke has boosted its retail offer with the signing of footwear brand Skechers and the upsizing of the centre’s Next store.
Skechers will be taking a 2,800 square foot unit as part of AEW’s extensive asset management and refurbishment plans for the centre.
In addition, Next has opened a new anchor store which is double the size of its previous shop at 48,000 square feet. Other anchors at the centre include Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.
As well as enhancing the retailer line-up, AEW plans to improve the casual dining offer with the introduction of additional food and beverage occupiers to Queen Anne’s Walk.
Metro Bank and Greggs have opened in newly refurbished units on St John’s Square, taking 14,000 square foot 2,400 square foot units respectively. Adjacent to the pedestrian route from the main line railway station, the square is currently undergoing enhancement works to its public realm.
Russell Jewell, head of private equity funds at AEW, said: “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 food and beverage occupiers. We’re delighted to be adding Skechers to the mix of brands, and have several further exciting announcements in the pipeline.”
The refurbishment works at Festival Place also extend to the car parks which will be renovated to improve traffic efficiency and access to the centre. Work is scheduled to begin in March 2017.
Festival Place has an annual footfall of 20 million and is home to 200 shops and restaurants including SuperDry, Zara, Apple, River Island, New Look, H&M and a 10-screen Vue Cinema.
