Prime shopping centers performed well over the festive period (December 26 (Boxing Day), 27 and 28) with Hammerson attracting 2.25 million consumers to its nine regional centers.
December 27 was the busiest day as Hammerson recorded an increase in footfall of over 40% across its portfolio.
At Brent Cross in London footfall for December 27 was up nearly 60% with the center welcoming close to 90,000 consumers, which was a record footfall figure in its 34 years of trading. Spending also reached up to £7,000 a minute at the center that day.
With retailers discounting by up to 80%, Bullring in Birmingham saw 203,000 shoppers head to the sales on December 27, achieving an increase of 54% on the previous year and an additional 200,000 shoppers on December 28. The Oracle in Reading had its busiest Christmas Eve in five years and footfall on the December 27 was up 37% on 2009.
In Scotland, Silverburn in Glasgow recorded the highest number of visitors in its history on December 23, with over 90,000 shoppers heading out for last minute gifts. Union Square in Aberdeen, saw impressive footfall increases of 31%, 49% and 10% for December 26, 27 and 28 respectively in its second year of Christmas trading.
David Atkins, Chief Executive of Hammerson, commented: "We have seen some exceptional trading across our centers over the Christmas period. We have an excellent portfolio of centers in strong locations which, importantly for our retailers, are attracting significant number of shoppers.
"The December bank holidays are traditionally robust trading days for us. The festive sales period this year, with Boxing Day falling on a Sunday, followed by bank holidays on Monday and Tuesday has given customers a three-day shopping window which they have made the most of."
Items selling well across the Hammerson portfolio over the Christmas and sale period include jewelry, iPads and 3D TV's.
Hammerson's shopping center portfolio comprises: Union Square in Aberdeen, Silverburn in Glasgow, Bullring in Birmingham, Highcross in Leicester, Queensgate in Peterborough, Brent Cross in North London, The Oracle in Reading, WestQuay in Southampton and Cabot Circus in Bristol.
Source: Hammerson
