The UK‘s high streets enjoyed a welcome lift over the bank holiday weekend as the warm weather and the start of Whitsun half term encouraged shoppers into stores.
According to figures released this morning by retail analysts Springboard, footfall rose by 4.4% over the weekend compared with the same time last year, overcoming the decline seen in recent months, according to figures out today by retail analysts Springboard.
“Families were confidently out in force across UK high streets over the weekend, bringing a welcome boost to what has been a difficult start to the year for these destinations” commented Diane Wehrle, Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard
Coastal and historic towns saw a 14% year-on-year increase as consumers opted to stay outdoors. These were favoured over indoor shopping centres and retail parks where footfall dropped every day over the weekend. Southsea and Portsmouth were top towns for growth as well as Rhyl, said Springboard.
“Coastal and historic towns proved popular as the sun shone over the bank holiday, resulting in a decline in shopping centres and interestingly retail parks that to-date have been the leaders” added Wehrle.
