The ‘Top Cities’ research combines CGA’s sales data with device log-in data from Wireless Social to provide a ‘vibrancy’ ranking of Britain’s cities.
It shows that over the first half of the year Glasgow secured the highest average ranking followed by Bristol and Birmingham. Between late February and early June, Manchester performed better than any other British city.
CGA client director Chris Jeffrey said: “Britain’s cities were badly hit by two years of Covid-19 restrictions, but this research shows how hospitality can help revitalise them. While so much retail activity moves online, restaurants, pubs and bars are giving people reasons to visit cities, and keeping their central areas vibrant.
“However, operators face huge inflationary pressures, which is making real-terms sales growth difficult, and the cost-of-living crisis is constricting consumers’ spending. Hospitality can continue to fuel Britain’s economic revival, but it deserves proper support from government to help sustain fragile businesses over this challenging period.”
At the other end of the rankings, London has consistently finished bottom over the first half of the year, with sales down by 8% on 2019 in the latest four weeks to 2 July.
Julian Ross, founder and chief executive of Wireless Social, added: “What has been more alarming is the slow pick up in London, where flexible working patterns have hit city centre businesses that are hugely reliant on trade from office workers.
“This, coupled with 40-year inflation highs, a crippled supply chain, fluctuating consumer confidence and, most recently record-breaking temperatures, has created a melting pot of operational challenges. It’s vital that the sector receives as much support and backing as it can possibly get, only then will hubs like London truly return to form.”
Britain’s ten biggest cities, ranked by their ‘vibrancy’:
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Birmingham
- Leicester
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Edinburgh
- Liverpool
- Sheffield
- London