Shoppers are being warned to expect queues as pent-up demand and sheer lockdown boredom are predicted to drive consumers back to Plymouth city centre in their droves.
The reopening of “non-essential” shops, coupled with allowed use of outdoor seating at pubs and restaurants, on April 12 is expected to bring crowds back to the main shopping area, say retail experts.
It is thought that four months in lockdown will have had people itching to get back into the shops and recent footfall figures suggest this will indeed be the case.
Many stores, including those in Drake Circus Shopping Centre, have confirmed they will be back in business on April 12. But shoppers are being warned that anti-Covid restrictions will still be in place and that queuing will be likely, with some stores in Drake Circus mall operating a “traffic light” system.
Long queues were a feature when stores opened in June 2020 following the first lockdown, particularly outside Sports Direct, Primark and TK Maxx.
But Steve Hughes, chief executive of Plymouth City Centre Company, said it will be less of an issue this time round – and he is predicting the retail area will bounce back strongly.
“I think there probably be some queuing, but we are geared up for a big rush,” he said. “I expect Monday to be busy, and the following weekend. There may be some queues at some stores and we are urging people to shop off-peak where possible.
“We are expecting it to be busy, but know it is safe. I think the city centre will be buzzing from Monday, it’s what people have missed, that social connection, and we expect there to be huge pent-up demand.”
And he added: “The shops are desperate to open again and start trading and the work we have done to create a cafe culture will be a big draw.”
The City Centre Company has told businesses that with warmer weather now arriving it wants “to turn the city centre into a giant outdoor café” with as many businesses as possible providing outdoor tables and chairs, so they can do more business with social distancing in place. And Mr Hughes added: “Shopping habits may have changed due to Covid, but I think there will be a big bounce back.”
And he said the optimism is born out by recent footfall figures which showed, in the week of March 29 to April 4, an increase in visitors to the city centre of 112% compared to the same week in 2020, which was also during a lockdown.
Furthermore, there was an 18% increase in visitors on the previous week, with a total of 116,889 people in the city centre that week.
And although the figures are down 60% compared to pre-Covid 2019, Mr Hughes said they are evidence of a turnaround and said: “This is the first time this year footfall has been up on last year.
“With only essential shops and takeaways open I think this shows a growing confidence about getting out and about and we would expect footfall to increase sharply next week. People are desperate to get out again and our businesses are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back.”
Mr Hughes said the City Centre Company and city council had been busy sprucing up the area so it will look “great”.
Nationally, the number of shoppers visiting retail parks and “essential” shops in March shows consumers have missed bricks-and-mortar shops, said consumer data specialist Springboard.
The analyst predicts a 48% rise in sales when lockdown restrictions are lifted on April 12 and said it indicated there was "pent up demand".
