FESTIVAL Place is set to bring two more top brands to the town as it looks to strengthen its position as one of north Hampshire’s premier shopping destinations.

Jack Wills and Côte Brasserie will both be opening their doors in the Basingstoke shopping centre in the upcoming months.

Retail brand Jack Wills will open a store in Wesley Walk, adjacent to the Next 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 and Debenhams, as well as Apple, H&M, Zara, Superdry, Jack & Jones, JD, River Island, Moss Bros, Lush, Fat Face, GAP and Office.

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.”

In addition, the new eatery, Côte Brasserie, which is inspired by the brasseries of Paris, will offer a relaxed all-day dining experience and serving authentic French classics made from great quality, fresh ingredients.

Côte Brasserie will be based in Festival Square, featuring an alfresco seating area, the popular restaurant is bringing its Parisian-inspired all-day offer to the centre, boosting the wide spectrum of casual dining choices.

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.”

Since acquiring Festival Place in 2015, AEW has signed 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.

Head of private equity funds at AEW, Russell Jewell, 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.”