The UK retail landscape has changed dramatically over the past 18 months. The economy is getting tougher by the day for the nation’s retailers and shopping centres, and the downturn shows no sign of abating. As a result, Javelin Group’s Venuescore survey has thrown up some interesting results.
The survey’s results show that London’s West End continues to be the UK’s leading shopping destination with a rating of 3,202 – more than four times that of the next ranked venue, Glasgow. The stretch between London’s West End and its rivals has grown even wider in 2009 due to the significant role played by foodservice in Central London.
The capital’s West End – which runs north to south from Oxford Street to Piccadilly and east to west from the Strand to Park Lane – is made up of a number of separate (albeit interlinked) retail venues. When assessed on this basis, the West End’s largest individual retail venue, Oxford Street, ranks 15th in terms of fascia presence – a gradual slide out of, and away from, the top 10 which has increased pace in recent years.
Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh remain at first, second and third place respectively. The only change in the top five comes with Leeds taking fifth position, boosted by the recent opening of Clarence Dock, thus eliminating Norwich from the five frontrunners.
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Further changes to note in the top 20 ranking venues, are Liverpool, entering the top 10 in sixth place, with the opening of Liverpool One and Newcastle (now 10th). Other movements in the top 20 relating to new scheme openings include Leicester with Highcross (from 16th to 11th); Bristol with Cabot Circus (from 27th to 12th) and Belfast with Victoria Square (22nd to 14th).
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Cabot Circus pushed Bristol up from 27th to 12th in the UK rankings |
