Sovereign Centros has announced that local homeware and gifts retailer, Fig & Fox, has opened at Festival Place, one of the UK’s top 25 retail and leisure destinations. The launch of the Hampshire-based brand follows a successful pop-up at the end of 2023, also emphasising the destination’s commitment to supporting local brands and responding to consumer demand for a diverse range of premium retail options.
Founded by couple, James and Helen Mitchell, this opening marks the brand’s second permanent location, joining its sister site in Romsey. The new store showcases Fig & Fox’s independently crafted and ethically sourced collection of design-led products, created in collaboration with local designers and independently owned companies to curate a unique mix of items, including homeware, gifts, cards, jewellery and a selection of personalised products. The Festival Place location also features a takeaway counter serving barista-crafted hot drinks from local coffee roasters, Moonroast Coffee. A range of teas from New Forest Tea and hot chocolates from local handcrafted chocolate retailer, Chococo, are also on offer, as well as fresh baked goods delivered daily from Hoxton Bakehouse Southampton.
Fig & Fox’s store occupies a 1,790 sq ft unit, 50% larger than the pop-up space, allowing for an increased jewellery selection, as well as over 600 plants and a range of glass terrariums. The new space introduces a bespoke shop design aligned with the brand ethos, featuring warm vintage lighting, background music, and accented dark colours throughout to deliver a relaxed shopping experience.
Poppy Radford, Asset Manager at Sovereign Centros, commented: “Responding to the needs and wants of our catchment, Festival Place is introducing more premium but accessible retail brands, and the opening of Fig & Fox is evidence of Sovereign Centros’ ability to deliver this. Following a successful pop-up at the end of last year, the locally-based operator has now built a brick-and-mortar home here, with a quality fit out that Festival Place’s visitors will love. Coming shortly after the opening of Rituals, we look forward to seeing another brand with a premium feel go from strength to strength at the destination.”
James and Helen Mitchell, Co-Founders of Fig & Fox, added: “After launching our brand in 2022, we have been dedicated to sharing our passion for creativity, sustainability and thoughtful gifting, so we are hugely proud to have opened our second store in Festival Place. The opening marks a crucial first step to delivering our plans for 2024, during which we are committed to increasing our product selection, expanding our bespoke personalisation service, and launching a new range of gift boxes and accessories.”
The news of Fig & Fox’s opening follows the recent announcement that luxury beauty and wellbeing brand, Rituals, has opened at Festival Place. The destination has also evolved its F&B offer, with the recently opened pan-Asian noodle bar, Chopstix, and the soon-to-join Festival Street Kitchen.
