Footfall in November as a whole was up four per cent month-on-month but on Saturday was down 19 per cent on the previous week.
(Picture: PA Archive)The West End was badly hit by the Black Friday Tube strike with the number of shoppers down 40 per cent on a “normal” year, figures have revealed.
A walkout by drivers in the RMT union caused major disruption to five lines on Friday. There was a second strike on Saturday night on the Victoria and Central that ruined the planned return of Night Tube services after it was shut down during the pandemic.
According to New West End Company (NWEC), which represents traders in the West End and Mayfair, the action halted a strong recovery in footfall that had been building up through November. Although footfall was up 11 per cent on the previous Friday, it was down 40 per cent on Black Friday in 2019.
Footfall in November as a whole was up four per cent month-on-month but on Saturday was down 19 per cent on the previous week.
NWEC chief executive Jace Tyrrell said: “The weekend’s strike action across the Tube network has clearly left some would-be shoppers at home at a time when high street businesses so desperately need their support.”
A second day time walkout on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines is scheduled for December 18.
