It’s make-or-break time for retailers – and the economy

Take a stroll through central London and you’ll be overwhelmed with Christmas cheer. The angels and fairy lights are draped above Piccadilly, the shop windows packed full of evergreen, holly and ornaments. Fortnum & Mason has been transformed into the most decadent Advent calendar imaginable, and Cartier’s building is wrapped up in a giant red bow. Similar festive displays can be spotted all across the UK: Cardiff Castle is now a winter wonderland, the Edinburgh Zoo has unveiled its Arctic adventure, and the Belfast Christmas lights were switched on by domino effect, one part of the city following another.

But although the decorations may be displayed in all their glory, there are only a handful of observers around to enjoy them. For the few people wandering past, window shopping is the only shopping permitted while non-essential retail is banned by the rules of second lockdown. The quiet streets create an eerie feeling, serving as a reminder of the pain the UK economy has endured this year.