Apple will permanently close its Apple Festival Place store in Basingstoke, England, in November 2026, ending a 15-year run as the company prepares to reopen its nearby Reading store with a larger space and a completely new design.
9to5Mac reports that Apple Festival Place will continue operating normally until November, while employees will have the opportunity to transfer to Apple The Oracle in Reading or another Apple Store after the Basingstoke location shuts.
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Apple Festival Place opened in August 2011, only two months after Apple The Oracle opened at the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading, which means both locations have served customers across South East England for more than 15 years.
Apple The Oracle will reopen with a new design
Apple plans to reopen Apple The Oracle in December 2026 with several features found in its latest retail stores, including an experience room, a dedicated Genius Bar, an Apple Pick Up area for online orders, and free Today at Apple sessions.
Apple said it is “excited to reopen the completely redesigned Apple The Oracle” and give customers new ways to shop for products and receive support.
Once Festival Place closes, Apple The Oracle will become the nearest Apple Store for Basingstoke customers at roughly 18 miles away, followed by Apple WestQuay in Southampton at around 30 miles.
The changes continue Apple’s wider retail expansion, which has included 11 new stores and 17 relocated locations worldwide during the past 18 months, alongside recent upgrades to several major UK stores.
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