Londoners flock to Oxford Street in ‘encouraging’ boost... but pubs still struggle under Tier 2 rules

Coronavirus - Sun Dec 6, 2020
A fresh warning was issued for people to maintain social distancing
PA

Londoners flocked to shops during the first weekend since lockdown was lifted in an “enormously encouraging” boost for the capital’s struggling retail sector.

Thousands of shoppers flooded Oxford Street and Regent Street on Saturday and Sunday, with traffic banned from the roads between 10am and 9pm.  

However, a fresh warning was issued for people to maintain social distancing and to take “personal responsibility” for their actions amid fears the fall in the number of London Covid cases is plateauing. Figures from business group New West End Company showed a sales rise of 136 per cent week-on-week.  

Chief executive Jace Tyrrell said: “After a bleak November, it is enormously encouraging to see our customers returning to enjoy the festive delights of London’s West End. With the tremendous news of the vaccine now available, it is vital Londoners continue to support our battered retail and hospitality businesses over the coming months and the one in ten Londoners who work in the West End.”  

While the number of people visiting London’s famous shopping district almost doubled compared with November, it was 40 per cent lower than last year and pubs and restaurants struggled under Tier 2 restrictions, which ban indoor mixing of households.  

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly told Times Radio: “The government has put a series of restrictions in place to help balance the needs to protect lives and also protect livelihoods, but we’ve all got to play our own personal responsibility on this as well.  

“We’ve got to be careful, you’ve got to maintain social distancing.”

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