A BASINGSTOKE shopping centre has said there are still no plans for the empty Debenhams unit in the town. 

The three-floor department store, which opened in Festival Place in 2002, closed in May 2021 and has remained empty since.

The Gazette asked the shopping centre to see what is going on but a spokesperson confirmed that "there are no updates".

Festival Place previously left cryptic clues for shoppers on the side of the vacant unit, leaving people guessing what it might be used for.

Basingstoke Gazette:

READ MORE: Former Debenhams unit in Basingstoke could be put back into use

The signs included various clues such as ‘Beat That’, ‘Game On’, ‘First to Four’ and ‘Race to the Middle’ saying these are ‘coming soon’ to the shopping centre, but games for shoppers to play having been added to the wall. 

The owners of Festival Place previously said they were still looking for “viable alternatives” to fill the empty unit, which has now been empty for more than two years.

A spokesperson for the shopping centre said last year: “The Debenhams unit offers a significant opportunity for us and Basingstoke town centre. As soon as we have an update we will share it with you.”

Debenhams permanently closed all of its stores in May 2021 after going into liquidation, putting an end to its 242 years of trading.

While it had struggled for years, the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns pushed it over the edge.

SEE ALSO: What will replace Basingstoke Debenhams unit in Festival Place?

Some of its former units have plans for alternative developments, including the former Debenhams department store in Bournemouth has been replaced by Bobby’s, another department store with a beauty hall, art gallery, and sushi restaurant.

Paul Kinvig, chief operating officer of Bournemouth Town Centre BID, told the Gazette’s sister paper the Bournemouth Echo at the opening event in September 2021: “Towns and cities across the county will be looking at the Bobby’s building as what you can do with imagination and commitment in relation to these old department store buildings after many of them closed down.”