Resolve rail strikes, Carnaby Street owner urges Sunak

RISHI SUNAK must resolve the standoff with striking rail unions, the owner of Carnaby Street has said, after footfall fell on key shopping days before Christmas.

Brian Bickell, chief executive of Shaftesbury, which owns the shopping area in Soho, central London, urged the Prime Minister to “get all the strikes settled”.

While the company enjoyed a positive run-up to Christmas with turnover up by 42pc compared to the year before – in which business was hammered due to Covid – Mr Bickell insisted “strikes can’t go on”. Shaftesbury also owns other parts of Soho including Chinatown, as well as areas of Covent Garden and Fitzrovia. The company relies heavily on local visitors and tourists.

Two weeks before Christmas, during the four days of rail strikes, high street footfall levels went from being 9.6pc lower than 2019 levels to dropping by more than double, 20.1pc, according to data from Springboard.

Ambulance strikes are also a concern for Shaftesbury as it has a high concentration of bars and clubs that attract young partygoers. Shaftesbury also said that the area’s nightlife audience has returned on weekends. Mr Bickell acknowledged that all parties need to come together to find a solution.

Meanwhile, staffing remains an issue for the company as restaurants continue to suffer from labour shortages. Mr Bickell said restaurants in Carnaby

‘Strong performance is in contrast to more subdued spending and consumer confidence nationally’

Street have managed by having minimal staff during quieter hours.

The West End has, however, remained resilient. Mr Bickell said: “This strong performance is in stark contrast to the more subdued spending and consumer confidence reported nationally.” Last year, Shaftesbury announced plans to merge with Capco, the owner of Covent Garden. The merger is expected to complete at the end of next month.