BASINGSTOKE has been given a high-profile boost by one of Britain's leading retail bosses who has described the town's Festival Place complex as an "excellent example of town centre regeneration".

The praise from Stuart Rose, chief executive at Marks & Spencer, has been revealed as three new brands prepare to open branches in the flagship shopping centre.

Mr Rose paid a glowing tribute to what Basingstoke has to offer when he addressed industry leaders.

Speaking at the Retail Week Conference in London, Mr Rose said: "Go and see Basingstoke. It's a thriving retail community, and Festival Place is an excellent example of town regeneration.

"It's become a leading regional shopping centre and the high-quality design has attracted many of the UK's best brands. I thoroughly recommend it."

Mr Rose visited Basingstoke in November 2004 after the town centre's Marks & Spencer store underwent a radical revamp as part of the programme that has helped get the company back on a successful track.

Marks & Spencer has struggled with plummeting sales figures for a number of years, but the first quarter of 2006 saw sales in the UK rise by nine per cent.

A spokeswoman for Marks & Spencer said: "The Basingstoke store is very valuable to us. The store in Festival Place was one of the first to benefit from the remodelling scheme."

Later this month, fashion retailers L.K. Bennett and Austin Reed will open in the centre's Queen Anne's Walk, adding to the number of designer brands that already attract shoppers. Exclusive clothes shop Phase Eight will then open a 1,750 sq ft store in July.

L.K. Bennett founder Linda Bennett said: "The highly-affluent catchment of Festival Place provides a superb opportunity for us to introduce L.K. Bennett shoes, accessories and fashion collections to our target customers in Hampshire."

Emma Robinson, senior asset manager at Festival Place owner Grosvenor, said: "We are very excited to have L.K. Bennett, Austin Reed and Phase Eight open their new stores in Festival Place, endorsing it as Hampshire's leading fashion and retail and lifestyle destination."