Has the reopening of pubs scared away the shoppers?

Footfall has been improving but is still down by about 50 per cent on the year and the rate slowed on Saturday as pubs reopened, writes James Moore. Could face masks help restore confidence?

Consumers are returning slowly but it’s clear they are still nervous (PA)

The reopening of England’s pubs didn’t do much for retail footfall. To the contrary – figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown a steady improvement, but the rate slowed markedly on Saturday.

Last week was up 15 per cent when compared to the previous seven days. But on Saturday that fell to 9.2 per cent, the smallest improvement seen on any individual day.

That has to be a worry for retailers. When compared to the same week last year, footfall was still down by just under 50 per cent.

Is it possible people were put off at the thought of encountering boozy revellers throwing caution, and social distancing, to the wind as the pubs reopened?

We can but speculate. But it’s clear that much of Britain remains very nervous at the prospect of venturing out at all, so it has to be a possibility.

The BRC’s data also shows that the footfall recovery rate in the UK is behind its European peers. The trend line is noticeably flatter.

The sector clearly faces a challenge when it comes to inspiring confidence in a substantial subsection of its customers, even with the safety measures that have been put in place. These include one way systems, clutter free stores to facilitate distancing, hand sanitiser at entrances, and even gloves in some cases.

Its research shows these have been appreciated by those who have been out. But retailers can only do so much.

This brings us to the statement made by Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, the president of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science.

Sir Venki, a nobel prize winner, said the UK was “way behind” other countries in the use of face coverings and that they should be worn “whenever you are in a crowded space”.

Not wearing a one, he said, should be regarded as “anti-social” in the same way as drink-driving or failing to wear a seatbelt.

Scenes like those in Soho seen on Saturday are unlikely to assuage the fears of those concerned about venturing out (EPA) (Vickie Flores/EPA)

Now that needs to carry a caveat because some people have medical reasons for not going out armed with face coverings. Those with respiratory conditions would be an example.

But the professor’s point was otherwise well made, especially when one compares Britain’s experience with other countries.

There is a debate about how much protection masks provide to the wearer, but there is a broad consensus that they protect people around them. Confidence might be higher were they more widespread. They are a very visible symbol that says “we take this seriously”.

What hasn’t helped is the government’s mixed messaging. The guidance, is all over the place and varies depending on which part of this increasingly disunited kingdom you happen to be in.

People have to wear one on the bus or the tube in most places but can take them off when they arrive at their destination and then, say, enter the recently reopened coffee shop to obtain a shot of espresso to drink at their desk.

It isn’t hard to see the problem with that, but apparently its beyond the ken of policymakers.

The biggest blockage when it comes to Britain’s recovery from the deep economic hole Covid-19 has tipped it into is fear.

Masks could serve to reduce that, reduce the spread of the virus, and inspire confidence in people who have decided that it’s too early and far too risky to be visiting non-essential shops, let alone pubs and bars, the ill-thought-out reopening of which has already resulted in localised outbreaks.