Shopping centre owner Hammerson has reported a strong start to the post-Christmas Sales period, with 2.25 million shoppers visiting its nine regional shopping centres over the three days from Boxing Day.

Hammerson said that December 27 was its busiest day, with footfall up over 40% across its shopping centre portfolio.

At Brent Cross, in North London, which was forced to close temporarily before Christmas during the worst of the snowy weather, footfall jumped nearly 60% on December 27 with close to 90,000 shoppers visiting the centre, the highest number of visitors in its 34 year history. Spending reached up to £7,000 a minute on Boxing Day.

The Bullring in Birmingham saw retailers discount by up to 80% and 203,000 shoppers headed to the Sales on December 27, a 54% increase on the previous year. An additional 200,000 shoppers visited on December 28. 

The Oracle in Reading recorded its busiest Christmas Eve in five years and footfall on December 27 rose 37% on the same day last year.

Union Square in Aberdeen saw footfall increase by 31%, 49% and 10% for Boxing Day, December 27 and December 28 respectively.

Silverburn in Glasgow (pictured) had its highest number of visitors in its history on December 23 with over 90,000 shoppers visiting the Scottish shopping centre.

Hammerson chief executive David Atkins said: “We have seen some exceptional trading across our centres over the Christmas period. We have an excellent portfolio of centres in strong locations which, importantly for our retailers, are attracting significant number of shoppers.

“The December bank holidays are traditionally robust trading days for us. The festive sales period this year, with Boxing Day falling on a Sunday, followed by bank holidays on Monday and Tuesday has given customers a three-day shopping window which they have made the most of.”

Hammerson also operates Highcross shopping centre in Leicester, Queensgate in Peterborough, WestQuay in Southampton and Cabot Circus in Bristol.

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