Local retailer opens at Festival Place following successful pop-up

A local independent retailer has opened permanently at Sovereign Centros’ Festival Place, following the success of its pop-up store at the Basingstoke scheme.

Homeware and gifts retailer Fig & Fox has taken a 1,790 sq ft space – which is 50% larger than its pop-up store which ran at the end of 2023.

Fig & Fox – which was founded by couple James and Helen Mitchell – offers a range of independently-crafted design-led products, including homeware, gifts, cards, and jewellery.

The Festival Place store also features a takeaway counter serving hot drinks and baked goods from local food and beverage operators.

Poppy Radford, asset manager at Sovereign Centros, said: “Responding to the needs and wants of our catchment, Festival Place is introducing more premium but accessible retail brands, and the opening of Fig & Fox is evidence of Sovereign Centros’ ability to deliver this. Following a successful pop-up at the end of last year, the locally-based operator has now built a brick-and-mortar home here, with a quality fit out that Festival Place’s visitors will love. Coming shortly after the opening of Rituals, we look forward to seeing another brand with a premium feel go from strength to strength at the destination.”

The news follows the recent openings of beauty and wellbeing retailer Rituals and pan-Asian noodle bar Chopstix at Festival Place. The destination will also welcome an upsized venue for local food and beverage operator Festival Street Kitchen.