For the second weekend running the festive spending frenzy has smashed West End trading records. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday retailers took an estimated £200 million as footfall once again exceeded expectations.
The scale of the bonanza saw the number of shoppers hitting Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street rise by over 17 per cent compared with the same weekend last year. With the final Christmas shopping weekend still to come, this could prove to be a bumper year for West End stores.
John Lewis, Liberty and Fortnum and Mason were among the shops enjoying what appears to be an upturn in consumer confidence. All three stores reported a big rise in the number of shoppers through their doors and increased sales.
A spokesperson for John Lewis reported a record two weeks which has contributed to national sales of over £147 million.
Kate Brindley of Liberty said; “We actually had our busiest weekend yet this year in terms of the amount of money taken and the number of transactions made.”
Fortnum and Mason reported that they ran out of turkeys during the record breaking weekend, during which tills registered the busiest single hour of the year.
Shoppers spoke of a buy, buy, buy atmosphere in the West End as they searched for presents and stocked up for the big day. Many reported spending more than they intended to because they just want to make Christmas nice for their families and friends.
Jane Tyrell of the New West End Company says the remaining shopping days will be critical for the district.
The West End has “a magical Christmas atmosphere for visitors to enjoy,” she said and retailers face a “massive trading opportunity” over the coming week.
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