Liverpool ONE set for busiest Christmas in 5 years

Liverpool ONE is set to have its busiest Christmas in five years, as record numbers of visitors are predicted during the festive period, according to new stats revealed today (Tuesday 12 November).

As the festive season approaches, the retail and entertainment destination is expecting over four million visitors in the run up to Christmas. The boost in visitors will top records since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Liverpool ONE is forecasting a 7% year-on-year increase in sales by the end of the year, while footfall is expected to be 3% higher than 2023, placing it considerably ahead of national trends, based on data from Shoppertrak and the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Retail bosses attribute the major growth to consumer confidence in Liverpool ONE, the appetite of visitors wanting to spend at Christmas time, placing Liverpool among the top spenders in the UK, according to Clear Channel. Experts also say there has been double digit growth across food and drink, beauty and menswear over the last year.

Brands continue to invest in Liverpool ONE with 13 new brands having opened in the last year including Flight Club, AllSaints, Tag Heuer and Montirex, while international beauty giant Sephora and fashion brand UNIQLO have recently announced their upcoming arrival in 2025.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said:

“Our achievements this year have set us up for what we anticipate will be our busiest festive season surpassing performance figures since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re incredibly proud to have had the chance to support Liverpool-born brands such as Montirex opening its first standalone store, while major names such as Tag Heuer and Flight Club have chosen our city for the first time, offering visitors fresh experiences throughout 2024 with multiple pop-ups from brands including Noughts and Kisses proving exceptionally popular.

“As we enter into the busiest time of year for retail, we’re optimistic footfall will continue to remain ahead of national trends – this is a true testament to the breadth of choice and activities we have at Liverpool ONE.”

The festive season’s predicted visitors and sales performance comes as Liverpool ONE prepares for a bumper Christmas shopping weekend on 16 and 17 November, forecasting ‘snow’ falling over Liverpool ONE, instore activities and festive entertainment.

Liverpool-born Brad Kella, who was crowned winner of the latest series of Channel 4’s The Piano, will also be performing live on Saturday, helping shoppers get into the festive spirit.

Plus, in a collaboration with local social enterprise Make CIC, Christmas installations will can be enjoyed across Liverpool ONE, including an ice throne, Santa’s Postbox, and a toy box.

Visitors on Thursday evenings will be greeted by festive entertainment, with special visitors from giant ice sculptures and illuminated penguins to Santa and his elves bringing the magic of Christmas.

A collaboration with Wirral-based Future Yard will see Mosh Tots, the gig for kids event, hosting a special free event at Liverpool ONE for families and young ones to enjoy on 24 November.

Donna added:

“We know that our visitors like to be entertained at Christmas. That’s why we have created one of our busiest festive programmes working with brands, local organisations and city partners to give visitors a range of ways to soak up the excitement of the season.”