Ice rink and sales a boost to Yarmouth town centre’s footfall

Children, teachers and parents from St George's Primary school trying out the real ice rink which is opening to the public on Friday in Great Yarmouth.Picture: James Bass

Town centre manager Jonathan Newman said that Boxing Day, Saturday, was busier than the run up to Christmas itself.

'Footfall on Boxing Day was up 11pc against last year,' he said. 'The second half of the week was definitely better than the first, it was very noticeable it was busier.

'I noticed the queues, and the coffee shops and restaurants were really busy in the middle of the day.'

In the run up to Christmas, footfall remained in line with national trends, and was 2pc down.

The new Pandora store inside Market Gates on its opening morning.Picture: James Bass

But Mr Newman said Boxing Day was a good indicator of how its all going.

'Because Boxing Day was a Saturday, it fell into people's normal patterns,' he said. 'The shops seemed to be really busy, and the extra steps which have been taken give more reasons to come into town - such as the ice rink and the new shops - are attracting people.'

A number of new stores have opened in the last few months, including Pandora, Select, Bellismo hair salon inside the Market Gates Shopping Centre. Outside has seen the opening of Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Peacocks and Ponden Home in the former Co-operative building in the Market Place.

'It's been a good Christmas, there's a good buzz about the town,' Mr Newman.

First Furnishings Superstore Sale on Baker Street, opened at 10am with around 50 people queuing for the doors to open. (Image: Supplied)

In Gorleston, customers were keen to get their hands on good deals too.

First Furnishings Superstore sale on Baker Street, opened at 10am with around 50 people queuing for the doors to open.

Proprietor Ian Howkins reported a brisk mornings trade with the special door-buster offers snapped up in minutes.

The sale continues into January with extensive reductions across the store.