A PRETZEL shop is "excited" to be opening a new stall in Festival Place.

Auntie Annie's is opening a new kiosk in Festival Place shopping centre, two years after the closure of the last branch in the town.

The new stand is located outside Typo and Superdry, and will officially open for business on Saturday, November 9.

Owner of the branch, Sunil Joshi, told the Gazette that he is "excited" to open up the stall.

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The new Auntie Annie's Kisok in Festival PlaceThe new Auntie Annie's Kisok in Festival Place (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "I am excited to welcome everyone down and open this stall, we will be open for business seven days a week."

The brand is known for employing students and young staff and this branch is no different, with six members of staff already employed and ambitions to grow the workforce to nine - all of which live locally and attend schools and colleges in the town.

Sunil explained how Auntie Annie's is often a "first job for some people" and "students and part-timers learn new skills, so it is good for them."

He added: "I am excited to open up, we already have lots of people interested in visiting, lots have taken pictures when they walked past.

"I want to assure people that the stall will be up to the high standard as it should be, we are training our staff to meet the standards of the business to deliver good food."

He explained how it has been "a long time in the making" having "started the process in March, it has been step by step from then, and we are lucky to get it done before Christmas."

The grand opening event will be held on Saturday, November 9, with the Mayor of Basingstoke, Cllr Dan Putty, due to be in attendance.

Readers can register with the Auntie Annie's app to find out more.