At first glance, retailers in the prosperous south coast town of Bournemouth have less to worry about than their counterparts in poorer parts of the UK. On a sunny Friday in July, shoppers throng its pedestrianised streets, entertained by a variety of buskers.
But look closer and even this enclave — home to a university, a convention centre and a fine sandy beach — is not immune to the malaise affecting the high street, with flagship stores abandoning their prime positions. The Marks & Spencer store in Commercial Road closed in April.
Next moved out last year. House of Fraser will be shutting its doors for the last time in 2019. The vacancy rate is 12.4%, according to the Local Data Company — just above the national average.
