The independent homeware and lifestyle shop Fig & Fox will close its doors in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on 31 March 2026. The closure is part of a plan to shut half of the brand’s physical locations across the country due to rising operational costs and financial pressures.
The shop is located in the Festival Place shopping centre, where it first opened as a pop-up in September 2023. It became a permanent fixture in January 2024, taking over a unit that was previously used by the retailer Zara. Owners Helen and James Mitchell cited the upcoming April 2026 budget as a major factor in the decision, following the significant financial strain caused by the April 2025 increase in employer National Insurance contributions from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent.
This decision follows the shutdown of the company’s Winchester branch, which closed on 3 February 2026 after only five months of trading. The Mitchells, who have backgrounds in fashion and theatre design, launched the business to sell curated gifts, plants, and homeware. The closure comes despite the shopping centre reporting growth in the number of people visiting the site since it was purchased by new owners MDSR Investments in 2024.
While the Basingstoke site is shutting, the brand will continue to operate its original branch in Romsey and its other location in Salisbury. The owners stated that the current economic climate and rising costs made it impossible to continue trading at the Basingstoke site. Local shoppers will still be able to access the brand through its remaining two stores.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
