High street footfall boosted by "Super Saturday"

The latest data from Springboard has revealed that footfall in England’s high streets rose by +19.6% on "Super Saturday", 4 July, and +28.3% on Sunday 5 July in comparison to the weekend before, as Brits celebrated their new found freedom with the reopening of the hospitality and leisure industry.

Data reveals that evening footfall in England rose by more than over the 24-hour period as a whole on both Saturday and Sunday. Over the period from 5pm to midnight, footfall across England rose by +17.8% on Saturday and by +36.5% on Sunday.

In high streets, where the vast majority of pubs, bars and restaurants are located, the increase was even greater at +35.8% on Saturday and +48.9% on Sunday. In London, footfall rose by even more than across England - by +26% on Saturday and by over +40% on Sunday, increasing by +62.8% from the week before post 5pm on Sunday.

However, as consumers enjoyed the reopening of hospitality and leisure, it was clear to see that retail trading was less of a priority in England. In shopping centres, where there is a limited offering of restaurants and venues with alcohol permits, the rise was just +6% on Saturday and +10.7% on Sunday.

In retail parks, where the hospitality offering is even more limited, footfall declined on both by -7.6% on Saturday and -3.6% on Sunday.

Significantly footfall remains at around half of the 2019 level, with a decline of -57.7% across all destinations in England on Saturday, and -53.4% on Sunday.

Diane Wehrle, Insights director at Springboard, commented: “Despite what are positive signs for the hospitality industry on the first weekend of reopening, it is essential to recognise that footfall remains at around half of the 2019 level, with a decline of -57.7% across all destinations in England on Saturday, and -53.4% on Sunday. As the industry takes small steps in reopening post pandemic, we recognise there is still a long way to go before the industry returns to normality.”