New Year brings a new lease of life to Festival Place

Festival Place is springing in to the New Year welcoming new leases to the centre.

Exciting new arrivals include global beauty and wellbeing brand Rituals and vibrant noodle bar chain Chopstix. While independent eco-friendly gift and lifestyle pop-up shop Fig & Fox has proved so popular with customers it is to become a permanent fixture, moving to a larger unit.

Dutch cosmetics company Rituals opened its doors in the Basingstoke shopping centre on January 18, bringing an extensive collection of signature fragrances and luxurious products for both body and home.

Customers can choose from skincare products like cleansers, creams and oils, upgrade their bathing routine with indulgent bath and bodycare essentials, and enjoy the home range of beautifully scented candles, diffusers and room sprays.

There will also be an eclectic mix of designer homeware and accessories, stylish stationery, and luxury yoga and lounging fashion.

The brand, which has more than 1,000 stores around the world, announced a UK expansion drive in September, and this latest shop will be taking the unit initially earmarked for Ted Baker on the ground floor.

As part of the already extensive F&B offering at Festival Place, vibrant noodle bar Chopstix will wok your world.

Serving fast, fresh and tasty Pan-Asian dishes, Chopstix presents all its noodles and toppings at the ‘wok-station’, where customers can see their food being prepared to either take out or eat in.

Diners can choose the size of their box, pick a base item such as noodles or rice, and then select a topping – favourites include caramel drizzled chicken, sweet chilli prawns, or pumpkin katsu curry.

Customers then have the option to add a side dish such as spring rolls or churro sticks and a drink.

Those looking for a healthier option can choose ‘skinny cauliflower rice’ which, teamed with any topping in a small box, comes in at under 500 calories.

With all dishes prepared in under a minute, Chopstix servers really are the wok and roll chefs of the noodle world.

And it’s not just about welcoming new faces – Festival Place is delighted to announce that popular eco-friendly gift and lifestyle shop Fig & Fox has become a permanent fixture, and moved into larger premises at January 19.

It’s a real success story for the small independent business that opened in September on a pop-up basis and has now signed a five-year lease.

Selling homeware, houseplants, cosmetics, jewellery, food, cards and gift wrap, Fig & Fox collaborates with independent companies with a passion for sustainability, and showcases the best of Hampshire artists and producers.

The latest in a long line of independent businesses to join the fold at Festival Place, Fig & Fox is owned by James and Helen Mitchell, who opened their first shop in their local market town of Romsey last year.

The eco-friendly store uses only plastic-free packaging and James and Helen hand-pick every item from suppliers who share their values.

The Basingstoke store features a market area with food and drink from the local area, and a range of products that can be personalised in-store.

Festival Place Head of Marketing Emily Palmer said: “It is so exciting to start the New Year in such a positive way, welcoming two global names to our growing mix of premium lifestyle brands, and helping one of our lovely independents to expand its offering within the centre.

“We know our customers will love that they will now have even more choice when it comes to finding luxurious yet affordable home and beauty products here at Festival Place and are delighted that these well-loved stores are keen to be a part of what we are delivering to our customers.”