The latest Springboard data indicates that financial disparities between North and South are deepening due to the cost of living crisis. In the four weeks to 3 July 2022, retail footfall across the UK fell to -14.2% below pre-pandemic levels. Footfall was down -17% in high streets, -18.6% in shopping centres and -3.5% in retail parks. In Greater London, footfall was +27.4% above the 2021 level, compared to +8.9% in the North and Yorkshire. Springboard marketing and insights director Diane Wehrle said: “…we are anticipating that in August, footfall will plateau or even drop away marginally by circa -1% from July, followed by a decline of around -3% over the month between August and September.”
Boparan Restaurant Group is to open its first Slim Chickens restaurant within a Tesco Extra store this month, at the supermarket’s Redditch site. The new 68-cover restaurant will offer click and collect, takeaway and delivery. CEO of Boparan, Satnam Leihal, said: “We have identified locations nationwide for the brand… and Tesco’s Redditch Extra is a great place to start to support these plans.” The American chain, founded in 2003, currently operates 27 sites across the UK.
Landsec has announced the extension of its partnership with Hangloose with two new attractions at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent. Europe’s biggest purpose-built giant swing is set to open this month, and will be followed by the UK’s only outdoor skydive machine. The new attractions follow a strong first year for Hangloose’s Skywire, England’s longest zip wire, which launched at Bluewater last June. Hangloose plan to launch up to five more experiences at the centre by 2024, including a bungee tower and giant slide.