Festival Place Basingsoke has further strengthened its position as a premier division shopping centre with the signing of two more top brands, both of which are new to the town.
Jack Wills will open a 2,800 sq ft store, offering a range of British-heritage inspired men’s and women’s clothing. It will join other top retailers at the centre including anchor stores Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next, as well as Apple, H&M, Zara, Superdry, Jack & Jones, JD, River Island, Moss Bros, Lush, Fat Face, GAP and Office.
Côte Brasserie will open a 3,350 sq ft restaurant bringing its Parisian-inspired all-day offer to the centre, boosting the wide spectrum of casual dining choices. Located in Festival Square, the scheme’s dining and leisure quarter by the recently revamped 10-screen Vue Cinema, the new restaurant will be enhanced with an alfresco seating area. The centre already features an appealing menu of restaurants including Las Iguanas, PizzaExpress, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Nando’s, Giraffe, wagamama and Patisserie Valerie.
Since acquiring Festival Place in December 2015, AEW has signed some 25 new leases in the centre. Additionally, 57 existing tenants have renewed their leases with several choosing to upgrade, upsize or relocate within the centre improving the customer experience and overall visual appeal. During the two-and-a-half years under AEW’s asset management direction, footfall has increased by over two million, taking the annual total to 22.4 million customers.
Russell Jewell, Head of Private Equity Funds at AEW, said: “These latest brands demonstrate the high-quality, aspirational brands that the scheme continues to attract. Both names are opening in the town for the first time, joining an appealing line-up of retailers and dining operators. Our overall refurbishment, combined with upgrades by tenants, will continue to make Festival Place even more enticing.”
Neil Beaman, Property Director at Jack Wills, said: “Festival Place is the ideal location for our first Basingstoke store. Improvements to the centre and the strong catchment profile means we’re confident of trading well. For more than 18 years, Jack Wills has focused on the highest quality clothing and a spirited and inspired youthful appeal, epitomising what it is to be British, irreverent and carefree. We are looking forward to opening and providing Hampshire customers with more choice.”
Steve Seager, Property Director at Côte Brasserie, said: “Our restaurants are inspired by the brasseries of Paris, bringing relaxed all-day dining and authentic French classics made from great quality, fresh ingredients. With a large outdoor seating area at Festival Place, we will create the feel of a Parisian pavement bistro with real buzz.”
Joint agents for Festival Place are Lunson Mitchenall and Cushman & Wakefield. CBRE is the managing agent for the centre.
