Latest data from Springboard reveals that footfall across UK retail destinations rose by +3.8 per cent last week from the week before, and the uplift was shared by all three key destination types; in high streets footfall rose by +4.5 per cent , in shopping centres by +3 per cent and by +3.3 per cent in retail parks.
The Eat Out to Help Out scheme benefited retail destinations after 6pm more than at lunchtime, and it was also smaller towns across the UK which gained a larger uplift in footfall than large city centres.
Over the three days between Monday and Wednesday footfall rose in retail destinations across the UK by +18.9 per cent post 6pm versus a rise of +9.6 per cent at lunchtime (12pm to 2pm). And in market towns across the UK the rise in footfall of +25 per cent from the same three days in the week before was a third higher than the rise of +19.2 per cent in regional cities.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard commented: “The jury is still out regarding the benefit of the “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme which launched last week, although there were rises in footfall on each day between Monday and Wednesday from the week before.
“It is clear that it was the post 6pm period that yielded the greatest rise in footfall, and also that smaller towns benefited more than large city centres. As the scheme continues throughout August and more Brits enjoy staycations across the UK, time will tell if the government scheme provides the boost that retail destinations across the country require for business survival.”
