I don't know, but I've been told - Apple store's in Basingstoke.
That was the refrain sung gustily by dozens of blue-shirted Apple employees bused in from stores across the country for the grand opening of the world's biggest company. As diehard Apple fans patiently queued outside the store in Festival Place ahead of its 9am opening on Saturday, store workers whipped themselves into a frenzy before running out of the store to high five shoppers, whooping and hollering as they went.
The store in Queen Anne's Walk is the firm's 31st in the UK, and the first 1,000 customers through the door received a free t-shirt. At the front of the queue was Luke Jeffries, 15, from Southampton, who arrived in the shopping centre with his family at 6.15am to claim his place.
Luke, who owns a huge range of Apple products including three iPods, told the Observer: "It's been absolutely spectacular. I've been to most of the other store and I went to the opening of the store in Brighton and some of the London ones. It's the atmosphere, the people and the products, they're absolutely fantastic. I'm here for the free t-shirt as well, although I may buy something. I haven't decided yet."
The computer giant has taken over a large unit on the upper floor of the shopping centre, which used to be occupied by The Pier. Around 50 people rose early to be there when the store opened its doors, although dozens more arrived during the first few minutes of trading.
Several of the services on offer at the store were only launched in May. These include a free personalisation of any iPad, iPhone, iPod or iMac to get people up and running before they leave the store. Traditional tabletop signs have been replaced by iPads running Smart Sign, a new app that provides customers with product information.
An Apple Store App for the iPhone and iPod touch will also allow customers to find out what is going on in-store, such as free workshops, school field trips to the Apple store and a summer camp where youngsters can learn the basics of moviemaking.
Festival Place director Steve Connelly said Apple's decision to open a store in Basingstoke was great news for the shopping centre. "They are a fantastic international brand and the fact they have come to Basingstoke and Festival Place proves it is a great place to do business," he said.
