Basingstoke - Facilities

Facilities

Festival Place, a new shopping centre, opened in October 2002, adding a huge boost to the town centre, transforming the former The Walks Shopping Centre and the New Market Square. Aside from a wide range of shops, there is also a range of cafés and restaurants as well as a large multiple-screen Vue cinema (formerly Ster Century until their takeover in 2005).

Central Basingstoke has two further shopping areas: The Malls and the Top of Town. The Malls area has declined since the opening of Festival Place and the closure of its Allders department store, though it is still home to several major retailers. The leasehold was purchased in 2004 by the St Modwen development group in partnership with the Kuwait property investment company Salhia Real Estate, with provision for redevelopment The redevelopment of The Malls which started in late 2010, will see the dated looking shopping centre given a major facelift. The existing canopies will be removed and a clear roof canopy will be installed, which will protect the centre from bad weather, but still allows natural light and air in. The whole shopping centre will be repaved and new street furniture will be installed. A new gateway entrance to The Malls will be created and this will give a more desirable first impression of the town when people arrive from the railway station. The redevelopment is due to be completed in the Summer of 2011 but has been delayed until September 2011. The Malls Transformation work has been carried out by Wates Group using a variety of sub-contractors.

The Top of Town is the historic heart of Basingstoke, housing the town's Willis Museum in the former Town Hall building as well as several locally run shops, as well as the post office, and the market place.

The town's nightlife is split between the new Festival Square, and the traditional hostelries at the Top of Town, with a few local community pubs outside the central area. The town has four nightclubs, two in the town itself, one on the east side and one 2 miles (3.2 km) out to the west.

In Portchester Square is the Basingstoke Sports Centre which has a subterranean swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room. Above ground there is a gym, aerobics studios, squash courts and main hall. There is also a playden for young children.

Basingstoke is also home to multiple theatrical organisations; a modern concert hall, The Anvil., the Haymarket Theatre in the former Corn exchange and Proteus Theatre.