Footfall set to rise over bank holiday weekend

Footfall is expected to rise by 4.8 percent year-on-year over the upcoming bank holiday across all UK retail destinations, according to research from retail intelligence specialist Springboard.

The weekend marks the start of the Whitsun half term and the footfall spike is forecast following renewed consumer confidence following the election, and is expected to be helped by the weather, which is set to be mild and mostly dry.

Springboard is predicting UK high streets will see an uplift in footfall of 5.2 percent for the weekend having suffered a weak year to date, with retail parks expected to continue their ongoing growth with an increase of 6.9 percent over the three days.

Saturday and Sunday are expected to be the busiest days, with forecasts predicting footfall to increase by 4.5 percent on Saturday and Sunday to be higher at 6.9 percent. Bank holiday Monday, which has a 40 percent chance of rain, is expected to drop slightly to 3.2 percent growth.

Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said: “Footfall has suffered in recent months across high streets and shopping centres with April figures down -0.8 percent year-on-year, so the bank holiday weekend and Whitsun half term is set to be a welcome lift for UK retail destinations.

“Consumer confidence is high after the election, but as the weekend falls just before payday it is expected the attractions and events across the UK’s coastal towns will be the big winners rather than destinations with a pure retail offer.”