Western Daily Press (Saturday)
‘Encouraging’ footfall rise after first week back
THE owner of Cabot Circus in Bristol has said it has seen an “encouraging” rise in footfall at its shopping centres across the UK following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
In the week that saw the reopening of non-essential retail stores, landlord Hammerson said the number of visitors to its sites across the UK, including the Bullring in Birmingham
and London’s Brent Cross, was 60% up on the total for the equivalent week following the first national lockdown.
The firm’s managing director for UK and Ireland Mark Bourgeois attributed the rise to people feeling safer due to the Covid-19 vaccination rollout and had more confidence to spend increased savings.
Mr Bourgeois told BBC Radio 4: “It’s been a really encouraging start.
“After an incredibly difficult year our teams have worked really impressively to get these places to be safe and welcoming for our brands and customers.
“In footfall terms we’ve been 60% up this week on the equivalent week after the June lockdown so clearly an encouraging number.”
It was a similar picture on the streets of Gloucester yesterday. Western Daily Press photographer Paul Nicholls captured photographs of shoppers enjoying some retail therapy.
Buskers were back on the streets entertaining those enjoying their high streets again.