It's been a tough time for retail in recent years with two years of restrictions, lockdowns and now a cost of living crisis. While this has meant closures, Nottingham has seen a wave of independent shops opening across the city, including the regeneration of Bridlesmith Gate in recent months.
A new postcode tracker from the BBC has documented changes to high streets across the UK. It records the growth or decrease in different sectors including food, drink, retail and pubs.
Read more: Met Office forecasts wintry showers as weather warning issued for parts of Nottinghamshire
In the city centre, there were a number of retail closures including Cath Kidson on Bridlesmith Gate and Perfect Home on Upper Parliament street. The data revealed that in March 2020 there were 178 retail shops but there were 15 fewer in March 2022, which is a decrease of 8 percent.
There are plenty of new independent stores to choose from including Wolfe Wytch Apothocary in Sneinton Market, Still Together at Cobden Chambers and Relic X Hooked and Mint Duck in Bridlesmith Gate.
Elise Jennings, from Mansfield, is the manager of Relic X Hooked which opened in November. She said it might feel like the shops are closing but a lot are relocating and trying to figure out where to go in the city post-lockdown.
"We were in the Vic Centre for two years and there was a decline in traffic where we were but moving down here was the best move. We've only been here for a few months but it made the business 100 percent better. We have different customers who are really interested in the shop itself rather than coming in for a nosey," she said.
"In Nottingham, it feels like there are more shops closing or opening. I think everyone is trying to figure out where the best place to be is which may mean closing for a bit. Everyone is trying to figure out where to go."
Clothing may have decreased by 8.5 percent as shoppers got used to shopping online during the pandemic, but many services have increased. Hair and beauty salon openings were up with many new businesses opening across the city centre amounting to a 5.9 percent increase.
Owner of House of You, which opened in Castle Boulevard this year, Dani Mott, said the industry has been growing but at a faster pace than ever before. Her salon opened in August and now employs eight people across the business.
"I would say there are a few salons that have opened and they seem to be opening even quicker than before. It used to take people ten years before they would open their open place but now turnaround is a lot quicker and people are getting it done faster," She said.
"Our generation wants to be their own boss and no one wants to work for anyone else so lots of people are on a self-employment journey. Over the six months, we've done really well, especially as it's Christmas. My clients come every two weeks so I'm fully booked far in advance. We have about eight of us in here now and we all share clients. It's exactly what I wanted when I opened."
Studio Eight is a beauty salon that opened on Pelham Street this November. The salon has been busy since it opened and Stephanie Dao says that while Nottingham has lots of salons, they were attracted to the centre because the team wanted to open a salon with a difference.
"We decided to open in Nottingham because we felt there were so many nice salons here but we wanted to bring something different to the city centre. We wanted to provide the best services for our clients. It's been busy because it's the Christmas period but everywhere is so we are too," said Stephanie Dao of Studio Eight.
There have been different projects aimed at increasing footfall in areas such as Bridlesmith Gate, which was once known for its fashion. Many new stores, coffee shops and independent businesses have opened in recent months. Businesses have said new artwork which launched in November covering the buildings with colourful designs has increased footfall.
It's not just haircuts we are glad to be able to have again as tattoo studios are also on the up. A huge 28.6 percent increase in Nottingham was recorded over the two years.
Tattoo studios that opened this year included Alley Cats in Upper Parliament Street and Studio Valerie, near Forest Rec. Despite the choice, tattoo fans are not conflicted on where to go.
Kate Sullivan, 22, from Beeston commented: "I've had a few tattoos now but I always know which one I'm going to go to. Most people are loyal to a particular studio so you go there. The more the merrier when it comes to shops opening as it gives us more choice."
Supermarket chain openings were also on the increase in Nottingham with some of the biggest names opening this past year including Food Warehouse at Lady Bay Retail Park and Sainsbury's in Colwick. This amounted to a 1.9 percent increase compared to a 2.5 percent increase across Britain.
Department stores were down with a decrease of 13.4 percent over the past two years across Nottingham. This comes as the last remains of Broadmarsh shopping centre are being torn down and also Debenhams on Long Row closed its doors in 2021.
Read more:
- Fans delighted as historic Nottingham music shop reopens
- We go to Wollaton Christmas lights and get lost in a winter wonderland labyrinth
- Police release image of man they want to trace after football match brawl in Nottingham city centre
- Ninth child dies with Strep A as minister says antibiotics could be given in schools
- The latest M1 news from Nottinghamshire Live
