Barbers have bucked the trend in shop closures with more than 3,500 openings in the past five years.
They topped the list of new openings in towns and cities since 2017 with 3,547 shops, taking the total to over 15,700.
Number two was beauty salons with 2,200 followed by 1,300 new convenience stores, 1,077 cafes and restaurants and 952 nail salons. The figures are a much-needed boost to our high streets.
Anthony Copeland, co-founder of British Master Barbers, said: “The barbering industry has bounced back post Covid. Uniquely, the relationship a man has with his barber can run deep and be long-standing.
“We can see a client once a month for years, seeing them grow from boy to man, from son, to father and grandfather.”
The analysis by small business insurer Superscript follows the Mirror’s support of town centres with its High Street Fightback campaign.
Cameron Shearer, chief executive at Superscript, said: “Local independent retailers are the future of our high streets – 66% of Brits are continuing to go to the high street primarily to support local business owners.”
