Can’t believe how quiet the shops are!

[Countings]

Just picked DD up from her job at a large designer outlet - loads of spaces she says today has been like any other Saturday.

We drove to another retail park, again lots of space in what you’d think would be the busiest shopping day since it’s the last weekend before Xmas.

Aldi was quiet, no queues at the tills. There’s no need to impose restrictions, people are doing it themselves.

This is South Wales - what’s it like where you are?

I've been to a Christmas Market today. Its usually very very busy, but not today. No crowds around the chalets, no queues for food or drinks.

It was very flat and lacking atmosphere sadly.

Was busy in Oxford.

My local large Tesco was busier than it usually is on a Saturday

That looks depressing

A packed pub full of people singing, dancing and having fun at Christmas time looks depressing? 🤣 You must be fun! I won't take any more photos then. You might spontaneously combust. Plus I'm pissed.

I work in a city centre and it is BUSY.

NE England, for context

NW! Not NE!

Also I get footfall comparison wow and yoy and it's busy. 2019 busy.

I went into my Manchester suburb shopping centre on Fri lunch and it was eammed, but Lidl near old Trafford very quiet at 1030. Started to get a little busier anhour later but shop worker reckons everyone leaving shopping til nearer the bug day.

I w been at a retail park today and it was busy! The toy shelves in B&M looked like they had been looted.

West London very quiet for a Saturday today. A couple of weeks ago I was struggling to push my push chair through people and today the pavements were literally empty. Apparently it was quiet in Oxford st area as well...

I thought our town centre looked quieter than you’d expect the last Saturday before Christmas. BUT I also read a report on our local papers website that this last year there has been 11 shops, and 6 cafes/restaurants permanently closed. It’s not a huge town, so this has massively limited choice. I imagine this will have changed people’s shopping habits, along side concerns about Covid.

Waxonwaxoff0
catching Omicron wouldn't ruin everyone's Christmas. Wouldn't ruin mine.

That doesn’t surprise me. How depressing you feel that way.

Patronise away, @Thewiseoneincognito
Different things are important to different people. Not everyone is as invested in Christmas as you evidently are.

Local High St - busy but not rammed (SE LONDON suburbs). Had a trip to Rochester Kent this morning / lunchtime which was bustling but not packed !

Apparently it was quiet in Oxford st area as well...

I work close to Oxford Street. Pre covid I had an annual season travel card so would often pop to Oxford Street during my lunchbreak or on week ends. Now I no longer have a travel card I don't want to pay £7 for a trip on the tube to visit 1-2 shops when I can order online. Not afraid ofcovid, just a change in habit as it now costs me more to get there.

Preston, Lancashire. Fun 😀🤣

Well I've just been into Central London and it was absolutely heaving. Covent garden was ranmed and there was a huge football match celebrating in trafalgar Square, utterly rammed and all the streets near by etc.

Preston, Lancashire. Fun

Must be great if you’re on mumsnet.

Tesco Friday was bedlam.
A relative works in a supermarket and she said it's been non stop all day with massive shops.

@DynamiteFilledRadish

Preston, Lancashire. Fun 😀🤣

Is that a set from Shameless? 🤣

Jesus that looks rough

DP went to a large, normally very busy out of town retail park this morning. He was expecting to have to queue to get into the car park, it was no different to a normal Saturday morning. We’re in the East Midlands.

Sainsbury's quiet but was a bit early. My dd works in retail - it's been manic and was crazy picking her up from the retail park.

If people are not seeing relatives at Christmas surely they won't be buying presents in the shops, we have used Amazon to send presents directly to people we won't see.

@User5329806

If people are not seeing relatives at Christmas surely they won't be buying presents in the shops, we have used Amazon to send presents directly to people we won't see.

Yes, and it's SO much better to line the pockets of an American billionaire who doesn't pay UK tax than support British shops

You can use other online shops, we also use John Lewis to send stuff, if you don't like Amazon, depends what you are buying

Quite a lot of British people work for Amazon @zafferana and plenty of British businesses sell through them.

I went to a pub in Saturday night and I was really surprised to see a big crowd of people sitting outside. It was bloody cold. I went inside.