Apple has confirmed that its Festival Place store in Basingstoke, England, will permanently close on Saturday, November 21, 2026, ending 15 years of operations. The company previously announced the closure in August but has now confirmed the exact date.
The store opened in August 2011 inside the Festival Place shopping centre and has served customers across Hampshire for more than a decade. Its closure comes as Apple prepares to expand and redesign its nearby retail location in Reading.
Apple Confirms Closure as Reading Store Prepares for Expansion
Apple confirmed the closure date on November 3, with a message on its retail website thanking the Basingstoke community for its support.
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In an earlier statement shared with AppleInsider, an Apple spokesperson said:
We’ve loved serving the Basingstoke community for the last 15 years and look forward to welcoming customers at nearby Apple Stores, and on Apple.com, the Apple Store app, and at Apple Authorised Resellers and Service Providers throughout South East England.
Apple has also confirmed that employees at Festival Place will have the opportunity to transfer to Apple The Oracle in Reading or other Apple Store locations across the country.
The Reading store, approximately 18 miles from Basingstoke, will move into a larger space and reopen with a completely redesigned interior in December 2026.
The updated location will introduce several improvements, including:
- A dedicated Genius Bar with improved accessibility.
- A separate Apple Pickup area for online orders.
- An experience room for customers exploring Apple products.
- Free Today at Apple sessions and personalised support.
These changes align with Apple’s wider retail store redesign plans, which focus on improving technical support, product demonstrations, and order collection.
What Happens to Customers After the Closure?
Once Festival Place closes, Basingstoke customers will need to visit Reading for their nearest Apple Store, while Apple WestQuay in Southampton remains another option approximately 30 miles away.
Customers can continue purchasing products through Apple’s online store and receive technical assistance through authorised service providers.
Apple has not disclosed the specific reason for the permanent closure. However, the decision coincides with its investment in a larger retail location in Reading, suggesting a consolidation of its operations across the region.
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