UK retailers hit hard by lack of shoppers for Boxing Day sales

Then and now: images show how pandemic emptied Britain’s high streets

An unusually quiet Regents Street on Boxing Day in London. Boxing Day is traditionally a very busy time for retailers when they expect large footfall from shoppers due to discounts and sales. EPA

A near empty Carnaby Street in London. Harsher Covid restrictions now apply to millions more people, as rule changes come into force across the UK. EPA

A view outside Selfridges on Oxford Street as shops remain closed under Tier 4 restrictions. Reuters

A woman walks past sale signs in the windows of a Debenhams store at the start of the Boxing Day sales in Manchester. Reuters

A view of a quiet New Bond Street in London. Some 24 million people in England, more than 40 per cent of the population have gone into tier four, England's highest Covid level - which includes a 'stay at home' order. Reuters

Mounted police on Carnaby Street patrol next to closed shops. Reuters

Masked people pass shuttered stores on an unusually quiet Oxford Street in London. EPA

The toughest measures mean the closure of all non-essential shops, and businesses such as hairdressers, swimming pools and gyms. EPA

A masked man passes a closed shop on Oxford Street in London. EPA

A masked man passes a Sale sign on Oxford Street in London. EPA

Britain's normally bustling high streets were deserted on Boxing Day after millions were ordered to stay at home.

The day is traditionally a busy time for non-food products such as clothing and furniture.

Sales typically go into overdrive on December 26 as retailers cash in before the new year.

In 2019, queues of people were seen outside shop doors hoping to land a bargain, while security guards were on hand to control the crowds.

This year, shoppers in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England’s tier four areas – where non-essential shops are closed – had to go online to snare a bargain, further entrenching the decline of the high street.

British Independent Retailers Association chief executive Andrew Goodacre told The National the closure of shops on Boxing Day was another missed opportunity for struggling retailers.

“The non-essential shops in tier four were closed and so have again missed out on a peak sales period,” he said.

“I am afraid we do not have specific figures but it is really bad news for clothing, fashion, beauty – the sectors that have had the hardest business year imaginable.”

According to retail experts Springboards, footfall in England’s tier four regions plunged 77.3 per cent compared with last year.

In tier two and three areas, where shops were allowed to open, footfall was still down, by 38.2 per cent and 42.4 per cent respectively.

Barclaycard estimated shoppers would spend £1 billion ($1.36bn) less this year than last year.

More retailers are expected to close across England as further areas are brought under the toughest coronavirus restrictions.

Crowds of people queue outside a shop during the Oxford Street Boxing Day Sales in London, in 2019. Getty Images

Shoppers on Oxford Street hit the Boxing Day Sales in 2017. Getty Images

Customers wait to board an escalator at Selfridges in London, as the department store opens for its Boxing Day sale in 2016. Getty Images

Masses of shoppers on Oxford Street during the Boxing Day sales in London, in 2015. Getty Images

A crowded Church Street in Liverpool, on the first day of the sales in 1993. Getty Images

Shoppers on Boxing Day 1985 in Lewis's store on Argyle Street, Glasgow. Getty Images

Post Christmas sales at Debenhams, London, in 1977. Some people had been queuing since the 23rd of December. Getty Images

Winter sales begin at Selfridges in London in 1960. Getty Images

Busy London streets during winter sales in 1929. Getty Images