Clumber Street in its heyday was once branded Europe's busiest shopping street. Sadly it's lost that crown and shoppers in Nottingham have been speaking of their memories of the street and how it's changed over the years.
London's Oxford Street is now widely known as Europe's busiest shopping street, beating Madrid's Gran Via by almost 12,000 visitors a day. Shoppers in Nottingham, meanwhile, said Clumber Street had a reputation for being a hot spot for high street fashion and casual window shopping.
Like many high streets, businesses have come and gone on the street over the years. Popular camera shop Jessops is one example. Its Clumber Street shop closed in 2020, with charity shop the British Heart Foundation having announced plans to open in its place.
Read more here: Staff send 'big love' to customers of new craft ale shop
Designer trainer shop Size? was another business to close in recent years. But a new Sainsbury's has opened and other well-known high street brands like JD Sports and Lush remain. Retired Pat Haywood, who is 72 and lives in Woodthorpe, still shops on the street at least once a week.
She said: "Things are changing so rapidly, I use some of the shops but not all of them. I go to Holland & Barrett, Superdrug, and take the side entrance into Primark [off Old Market Square, in Long Row]. Some shops I miss would probably be the camera shop that used to be down here and there aren't as many clothes shops. It is still very busy, I still come down very often, I'm the old generation where I don't online shop, I like to feel and see it."
Retired Patrick Wayne, 68, from Bakersfield, said he used to love shopping in Clumber Street but missed how it used to be. He said: "I miss a lot of different shops, there used to more places for entertainment, it used to be packed. I still love Nottingham but I used to spend all day in the city shopping, it was fantastic.
"I used to love it but now Clumber Street has so many people sleeping rough and boarded up shops. I don't think it is a busy as it used to be but the sun brings people out."
Ted Baker worker Joy Croft, 30, from Sherwood, she still shops once a week in the city centre. She said: "I shop often in the city centre, I think it has 100 percent changed, I don't use all the shops. I like coming out to try clothes on and have a day out. It is a busy street as lots of people walk through it to get to shops like Primark, H&M and Zara."
What is happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourArea
