Overview
- Apple confirmed on Thursday that Apple Festival Place in Basingstoke will close permanently in November 2026 while Apple The Oracle in Reading will move to larger, redesigned premises and reopen in December 2026.
- The new Apple The Oracle will include an experience room for hands-on demos, a dedicated Genius Bar for repairs and support, an Apple Pick Up area for online orders, and free Today at Apple sessions.
- Apple said the Basingstoke store will operate normally until November and that affected team members will be offered roles at the new Oracle, other Apple Stores, or within Apple’s UK retail network.
- With the Basingstoke closure Apple’s UK retail count will be 38 stores and the company is directing customers to nearby shops, the Apple Store app, apple.com, and authorised resellers for purchases and service.
- The moves follow Apple’s multi-year plan to relocate and redesign stores as shopping-centre patterns and customer needs evolve, a shift that concentrates in-person services at larger, experience-focused locations.