More hell for high street

HIGH streets are in for an even bigger pounding this year, claim retail experts.

Another 18,000 stores could close to add to the 11,000 businesses that shut in 2020, says Lucy Stainton of the Local Data Company.

“We aren’t yet close to seeing the full impact of the pandemic,” she said.

Hospitality chiefs fear up to 30,000 pubs, restaurants and bars may shut if the government delays any of the dates in its roadmap out of lockdown.