Record Xmas shops bonanza

London shoppers went on a last-minute Christmas shopping bonanza at the weekend and are still spending furiously today.

John Lewis department stores registered their best week since 1988, while Bluewater shopping centre in Kent expects pre-Christmas takings to rise by 13.4 per cent to £220 million.

Defying recession warnings, Londoners have contributed the biggest share of the record £26billion the nation has spent this Christmas. Industry figures today revealed the extent of the weekend shopping rush. Yesterday, 16.3 per cent more shoppers visited Britain's malls than the Sunday before Christmas last year, according to the influential FootFall Index.

Saturday was four per cent busier than the same Saturday last year, and the weekend overall saw 8.3 per cent more shoppers. The poll studies 50 shopping centres including Bluewater, and covers 3,500 shops.

Bridget Rosewell, chief economic adviser to the British Retail Consortium, said: "People are spending as if they are shopping for Britain. The feeling seems to be 'Let's have a good Christmas and worry about 2002 in 2002'."

Since last month, sales growth has been running at its fastest for 13 years. John Lewis department stores, regarded as the bellwether of the retail sector, today reported Christmas sales up by five per cent on last year.

While high-profile names, such as Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, have seen a drop in big-spending visitors from overseas since the 11 September atrocity in America, this has been compensated by the determination of Londoners to ignore the global economic situation. Recent figures had predicted retailers were on course for their best-ever Christmas as the lowest interest rates for 40 years and high employment levels boosted sales.

Away from London's centre, shopping malls like Bluewater, Lakeside Thurrock and Brent Cross have also thrived. Bluewater expects takings in the eight weeks before Christmas this year to hit £220 million.

Spending on luxuries is buoyant, perhaps because people feel in need of pampering after a tough year. Jewellery sales at John Lewis are up by as much as 40 per cent on last year.

Andrew Wills, store manager at jewellers Boodle & Dunthorne in Regent Street, described the weekend as "very lucrative", with one customer splashing out £250,000 on a diamond bracelet and another £200,000 on a single diamond.

Sales of electrical goods are also extremely strong, with widescreen televisions, CDs and DVDs a major success story.

Nigel Wreford-Brown, merchandising director of John Lewis, said: "Stores in central London were depressed after 11 September almost until exactly the time the lights were switched on in Oxford Street. I think there was a psychological boost. It suddenly reminded everyone that it's a traditional thing to bring children up to see the lights."

And while Londoners have been shopping, they've also been eating out. A spokeswoman for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, which includes Claridges, Gordon Ramsay and Petrus said: "All three restaurants have been fully booked. There are waiting lists of at least 20 people for every lunch and dinner."

Graham Williams, managing director of Bibendum in Old Brompton Road, said: "The last two weeks have been two of the busiest we have ever had."

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