Wet weather and 10pm curfew dampens high street footfall recovery October 5, 2020 Retail footfall dropped for the second week in a row as the pub and restaurant curfew and wet weather brought further gloom for the embattled UK high street. Footfall across all retail destinations declined 3.5 per cent last week compared the previous week, dragged down by a 7.1 per cent slump in high street shopper [...]
Mulberry swings to full year loss as coronavirus shuts down high street October 5, 2020 Fashion house Mulberry fell to a £14.2m loss in the last financial year, the firm announced today, as the coronavirus pandemic derailed the firm in its final month of trading. The firm said that it had been on course to report a profit for the second half of the year before the virus shut down [...]
High street footfall plunges after 10pm hospitality curfew introduced September 28, 2020 High street footfall dropped sharply last week following the introduction of a 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants as part of measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Retail footfall has been gradually increasing as coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. However fears over a second wave of the virus prompted the government to impose a [...]
Debate: Has pandemic-induced online shopping killed the high street for good? September 22, 2020 The coronavirus lockdown in March forced the vast majority of high street shops to close their doors, at least temporarily. In turn, online shopping became the new normal for UK consumers. And even as the country eased out of lockdown, many have stuck with the habit. In fact, a recent survey found that two in [...]
Landlord New River converts retail property into residential amid high street turmoil October 8, 2020 Landlord New River REIT is pushing ahead with its plans to convert some of its retail and pub destinations into housing, it announced today, amid a challenging period for the sector. The real estate investment trust announced today that it has progressed its residential conversion opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic. In a trading update this [...]
Bain and CVC pull out of Boots takeover bid March 1, 2022 One of the main bidders vying to snap up high street chemist Boots has abandoned its bid for the firm, in a move which could see Asda now move into pole position for a takeover.
Private equity firms readying bids for Boots after owner puts chain on sale for £7bn January 16, 2022 Private equity firms are readying to enter the auction for high street chemist Boots after its American owner Walgreens Boots Alliance put the chain on the market for £7bn.
WH Smith’s ‘transformation’ to a ‘one-stop-shop for travel essentials’ reaps rewards June 5, 2024 WH Smith has increasingly sought to rely on its travel arm as demand booms following years of Covid-era lockdowns.
Tax-free shopping: Give the high street the shot in the arm it so urgently needs September 15, 2020 As the Brexit debate rages on, and with the end of the transition period looming, the pressure is on to draw a line under deal talks by the end of October. Much has been made of the potential benefits for UK consumers in the event of no-deal – a Brexit Bonus, if you will. But [...]
Exclusive: Sky to open first retail stores as it takes on high street rivals August 28, 2020 Sky is set to open its first ever brick-and-mortar retail stores in the UK as the broadcaster and telecoms giant defies faltering footfall to turn up the heat on its rivals. The media group is poised to open its first outlets in the coming months, providing a physical point of sale for its mobile, TV [...]