Apple closing location in beloved UK shopping mall after 15 years

APPLE is shutting down one of its UK stores after 15 years, in a major blow to the high street. The iPad to iPhone seller will close the location for good in just a matter of months. The Festival Place store opened in August 2011 and will be closing later this year Credit: Apple The tech giant will pull down the shutters on its Festival Place store in November 2026, according to a report in the Basingstoke Gazette. An Apple spokesperson told the outlet: “As we prepare to make these updates, we have decided to close our Apple Festival Place store. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! “Apple Festival Place will remain open until November 2026, after which all team members will have the opportunity to work at Apple The Oracle or other Apple Store locations. “We’ve loved serving the Basingstoke community for the last 15 years and look forward to welcoming customers at nearby Apple Stores.” The store is located on the upper level of Festival Place, where customers can currently buy Apple products, receive technical support at the Genius Bar and attend free Today at Apple sessions. Festival Place is one of Basingstoke’s main shopping destinations, with more than 180 retailers including major names such as Next, Marks & Spencer and H&M. The closure will be a blow for local Apple fans who use the branch not only to shop but also for repairs, technical support and Apple’s free in-store workshops. However, shoppers will still have another Apple option nearby. Most read in Money The company’s Apple The Oracle store in Reading will reportedly undergo a major redesign before reopening in December, giving customers another close location for products and support. Over the past 18 months, Apple has upgraded or relocated six UK stores, while opening 11 new stores worldwide. Apple currently operates 39 stores across the UK, meaning the Basingstoke closure will bring its UK total down to 38. Comment now