Christmas shopping scramble: Shopping centres will be busy before lockdown comes in

The festive shopping period usually starts in earnest after the Guy Fawkes’ fireworks displays, but from tomorrow all non-essential retailers are being forced to close until December 2 at least.

There are fears that the restrictions will be extended until after the Christmas period due to the steep rise in coronavirus cases across the country.

It means people, told on Halloween that shops were shutting on Bonfire Night, will have had only four days to buy their gifts in stores for Christmas.

Traditional seasonal sights such as Santa’s grottos have been scrapped, and a firm family favourite, Fenwick’s window in Newcastle, is moving online.

The Metrocentre in Gateshead has been particularly busy

The last few days have seen queues snaking from popular stores with heavy footfall in heaving shopping malls and town centres.

Northern Echo photographer Sarah Caldecott visited the Metrocentre, the North-East’s shopping Mecca, in Gateshead, on Tuesday.

She said: “There were big queues coming out of the main shops.

"It tended to be the ones where people would buy gifts, places like Primark and Boots, but clothes shops were very busy as well.

“The car parks were full in the morning, and I was told it was getting even busier later in the day.”

Several stores contacted by the Northern Echo said they were ‘too busy’ or ‘did not have time’ to discuss the surge in customers as people clamour to complete weeks’ worth of shopping within days.

A staff member at Menkind, which supplies presents aimed at men who are young at heart, said: “It is rammed. It has been very busy.”

The problem of busy stores has been magnified by restrictions limited the number of people who allowed in any one time to maintain social distancing measures.

Shoppers have been getting gifts for Christmas early

Chris Geaves, chief executive of Sovereign Centros, which recently took over the running of the Metrocentre, from Intu, said: “In terms of the worry people cannot buy toys before Christmas, the human instinct is that people think ‘well we better go and buy it now’.

“We could well see a very busy couple of days this week while people do that.

“I would not be surprised to see the numbers well up.

“It is a bit annoying actually because we have just opened the Hamley’s toy store at the centre and that is nice new addition.

“It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days, to see if people are just covering their bases in case the lockdown extends beyond December 2.”

Shoppers in Darlington town centre

The Cornmill Shopping Centre, in Darlington, extended its opening times until 7pm on Tuesday and Wednesday to ease the footfall at peak times.

Centre manager Susan Young said: “Over the last few days we have seen a significant increase in the numbers of people visiting the Cornmill. Our stores have been exceptionally busy.”

Karen Eve, centre director at The Bridges shopping centre, in Sunderland, said decorations were being put up in the hope customers can return next month before Christmas.

She said: “Christmas had already started at Bridges before the national lockdown was announced and we were seeing a steady increase in footfall with customers choosing to shop early to avoid crowds and secure gifts early in case social restrictions were increased.

“The announcement of lockdown has caused customers to come out in greater numbers, concerned the lockdown may run beyond 2 December, so we have extended our opening hours for Wednesday November 4 to ease queues and support tenants.”

Footfall has been high in Darlington

Fenwick, in Newcastle, an institution among North-East shoppers at Christmas, has said it is cancelling its Santa experiences during lockdown, and is moving the unveiling of its famous festive windows online.

The store, which attracts huge crowds each year, said a section of Northumberland Street will be closed to the public and the window and surrounding area will not be viewable.

Store director Kieran McBride said: “This year has been unlike any other, and really difficult for many people in the area.

“In line with current government guidelines we ask you help us keep the window safe by watching the livestream from 6.45pm on Sunday from home.

“We are doing everything we can to deliver a little festive magic wherever possible, and we thank you for your ongoing support during this ever-changing time.”