Foot fall up by 22%

Footfall figures just published show that the Guildhall Shopping Centre in Exeter experienced a 22 per cent increase in footfall for its Christmas lights switch on event last Thursday compared with the same event in 2010.

Over 47,600 visited the centre last Thursday, up from nearly 39,000 at the same time last year and an increase of nearly 15,000 on footfall figures the previous week.

Put into perspective, the annual benchmark for shopping centre footfall last week year on year was -4.2 per cent.

The Christmas lights switch on event followed hard on the heels of the Guildhall Shopping Centre’s annual Christmas Parade, which took place on the previous Saturday and which attracted a record crowd of around 17,000 people.

Both events are part of a wider Christmas event schedule organised by the Guildhall Shopping Centre to ensure that Exeter has plenty to celebrate this festive season. Highlights to come include: the Christmas Craft Fayre, 1st to 4th December; the Santa Run on 4th December; and Hug a Husky on 17th and 18th December. In addition the Guildhall Shopping Centre Santa’s Grotto, the biggest in Exeter, is open throughout the Christmas period.

More information about events and activities is available by logging on at www.guildhallshoppingexeter.co.uk

Andrew McNeilly, centre manager at the Guildhall Shopping Centre, said: “We took the decision earlier on in the year, once we were fully aware of the situation regarding Christmas lights and the outcome of the BID, to step in and take control of the normally Council driven lights-on event in the city. We are delighted by the footfall figures for Christmas lights switch on day and it proves our ability to create a family centric event that appeals directly to our target customers.”