West End footfall surges 17.7% on Saturday

Retailers across the London shopping district - Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street - said footfall was up almost 20% year-on-year on Saturday and businesses in the West End expect to take £1bn over the festive season.

Footfall in the West End was up 5.5% year-on-year, outperforming high streets and shopping centres nationally, which saw an average footfall rise of 0.2% according to Springboard’s UK High Street Index.

Retailers across London’s West End also reported a rise in sales for November, up 2.3% on the same month last year, above national sales which were up 0.4%, according to the BRC UK Retail Sales Monitor.

New West End Company director Jace Tyrrell said: “The next eight days are a massive trading opportunity for retailers to really draw in shoppers visiting London’s retail heartland and create a magical Christmas atmosphere for visitors to enjoy. This is a critical time for the area, as most retailers will take half their annual profits during the Christmas period.”

Fortnum & Mason chief executive Ewan Venters said: “We have had another amazing day, customers want to celebrate Christmas and are stocking up on traditional treats such as Christmas puddings, mince pies and stilton. We have sold out of turkeys and can’t accommodate further orders.”

Fortnum said it was busier between 3pm and 4pm on Saturday than the best hour in store in 2011 on December 23. Online sales are up 300% year on year throughout December at the upmarket department store.

Selfridges said men’s jewellery was up 26%, with Alexander McQueen the most popular lines for men this year.