Even More Shoppers Choose Bedford Town Centre

Shoppers backed Bedford Town Centre this Christmas with even more people choosing to shop in the town in the run up to and after Christmas compared to last year. Between 22 and 27 of December footfall was up by 24% compared to the previous year and Bedford bucked local trends as the rest of the Eastern Region footfall was down by 1%. The American-style Black Friday events also boosted sales in town, with a huge increase of 37% in footfall being noted compared to the previous year's figures.

Bedford's independent shops are also thriving according to The Local Data Company. Figures show that against the UK average of 68%, Bedford's independent retail base totalled 441 (71%) compared to 178 chains in the area. Locally, Milton Keynes only has 33% independents, Cambridge 46% and Northampton 60%.

Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson said, "Bedford is bucking the national trend with more people coming to the town centre than in previous years. A vibrant mix of independent shops, well known chains and an array of high quality cafes and restaurants are all helping to attract shoppers. Meanwhile, the free parking available on both Saturdays and Sundays gives people even more reason to choose to visit and enjoy the town centre."

"This is an exciting time for Bedford, with even more shopping and entertainment opportunities on the horizon. With the forthcoming completion of a brand new bus station and exciting riverside regeneration which will see the return of town centre cinema and much more, there is a lot to look forward to for residents and visitors alike."