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Spending boost for West End’s stores
HALF a million shoppers were drawn to London’s West End this bank holiday by a day of free parking and in-store entertainment.
The event, which saw shoppers spend around £50m on Saturday alone, took the New West End Company six months to organise with co-operation from West End retailers, Westminster City Council and Transport for London. Oxford Street was cleared of all traffic from noon until 5pm, allowing shoppers to enjoy a mammoth game of pass the parcel, amongst other things.
The New West End Company used the event as a way to celebrate the birthdays of various West End retailers such as Selfridges which are celebrating their centenary and Hamley’s 250th anniversary.