Entertainment

The British high street in 2024

Published

2 months ago

September 25, 2024

The British high street in 2024 remains a battleground of mixed fortunes as both long-standing institutions and new businesses adapt to the rapid rise of online alternatives. This year has seen further shifts in consumer behaviour, impacting various sectors, including retail, hospitality, and high street bookmakers. With the backdrop of inflation, changes in disposable income, and growing digitalisation, the high street has seen varying degrees of success and decline.

The current state of the high street

A recent PWC report highlights how in Q3 and Q4 of 2024, the British high street continues to face pressures from rising costs, supply chain issues, and changing consumer behaviour. The shift to online shopping remains a major challenge, contributing to ongoing store closures—currently at 38 per day.

While government initiatives like the Levelling Up Fund have provided some relief, the impact has been uneven, with retail parks and shopping centres showing resilience compared to high streets.

In Wales, high streets remain central to communities but are experiencing similar difficulties. The convenience of online shopping and reduced footfall have led to more closures, especially for smaller retailers, chemists, and banks. Without further intervention, some high streets risk falling into a continued cycle of decline.

Bookmakers

High street bookmakers, once central to British town life, have struggled due to the rise of online betting platforms. The convenience of mobile apps has drastically reduced foot traffic, with approximately 30% of betting shops closing over the past five years. Tighter regulations on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) have also hurt revenue.

In contrast, online bookmakers have thrived by offering 24/7 access, better odds, and frequent promotions, making it easier to find an online casino than visiting a physical shop. While some customers still appreciate the social aspect of betting shops, operators are increasingly merging physical and digital experiences to remain competitive.

Retail

Free Cars on Highway Beside White Building Stock Photo

Traditional high-street retailers, particularly in fashion and electronics, have also struggled. The convenience and vast offerings of e-commerce giants like Amazon have pulled consumers away from physical stores.

Major chains such as Debenhams have disappeared from the high street, while others like John Lewis have significantly reduced their physical footprint. To remain competitive, many retailers are adopting omnichannel strategies, blending online shopping with in-store experiences, though rising costs and reduced foot traffic remain significant challenges.

Hospitality

The hospitality sector, including cafés and restaurants, has faced a mixed outlook in 2024. While chains like Costa and Pret A Manger have made a strong recovery after the pandemic, independent establishments, particularly pubs, continue to struggle with rising costs and labour shortages.

Furthermore, the popularity of online food delivery platforms, such as Uber Eats and Just Eat, has reshaped the dining experience, pushing many restaurants to focus on takeaway services rather than dine-in customers. To stay competitive, some venues are investing in technology, offering digital menus and contactless payments to streamline the customer experience.

Bank branches

Another sector experiencing significant change is banking. The rise of online banking and fintech has led to widespread bank branch closures across the UK, as consumers increasingly manage their finances digitally.

Banks such as HSBC and Barclays have significantly reduced their physical footprint, leaving many towns without a local branch. This has particularly impacted older customers and those in rural areas, where access to digital services can be limited. In response, some banks are experimenting with smaller, more flexible branch formats or failing this, a mobile banking van scheme.

Independent retailers

While large chains are shrinking, some independent retailers are finding ways to thrive. The rise of campaigns encouraging consumers to shop locally has bolstered small businesses, especially in areas like Wales, where supporting local producers and artisans has become a cultural priority.

Many independent retailers are embracing e-commerce alongside their physical shops, using social media and online marketplaces to reach wider audiences while maintaining their personal, community-focused approach.

Conclusion

In 2024, the British high street continues to face an uphill battle as online alternatives dominate the retail and betting landscapes. While government interventions have provided some relief to struggling high streets, the future remains uncertain.

High-street bookmakers, retailers, and even banks face growing competition from online services, which offer greater convenience and flexibility. The shift towards digital experiences and declining foot traffic threatens the traditional high street, but businesses that innovate and adapt may yet find ways to survive and thrive in this evolving environment.

Entertainment

Miles Jupp: On I Bang

Published

22 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SINCE Miles’ last tour finished at The London Palladium in 2017, he’s been in The Full Monty on Disney Plus, The Durrells and Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? on ITV, as well as a heap of episodes of Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and Have I Got News For You. He’s made an award-winning radio series and he’s published a novel. But for Covid, he would have played a lead at the RSC. Hey ho. Nevertheless, he’s done a play in the West End and played the Emperor of Austria and Europe in a Ridley Scott film and now he heads here to the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven!

Yet one sunny day in the middle of all this, he suddenly suffered a brain seizure. This led to the discovery of a tumour the size of a cherry tomato, and a rather pressing need to undergo major neurosurgery. Obviously, one doesn’t wish to make a big deal of it, but the experience has left him with a story to tell and a few things that he’d like to share with the room. So that’s exactly what he’s doing in his new show On I Bang – a tale about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified medical practitioners.

Having received rave reviews by The Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph, On I Bang with Miles Jupp is one not to be missed here at the Torch, and tickets are selling like hot cakes. Awarded four stars and described as “Elegantly funny, terrible English account of a tumour” by The Guardian and awarded five stars by The Arts Desk 2024, this a performance that will be talked about for months to come.

Join Miles Jupp: On I Bang when he visits the Torch Theatre on Friday 10 January at 8pm.Ticket price: £25. For tickets phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.

Entertainment

How to improve your home in a cost of living crisis

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2024

Staff Writer

Welsh households have faced an increase in the cost of living over the last few years. Between 2022 and 2023, nearly half of Welsh residents (43%) reported a worsening of their financial situation.

With bills ever on the rise, things like home improvements have taken a back seat in an effort to save money. However, making some improvements to your home can be advantageous and there are plenty of ways to make positive changes without having to break the bank.

Benefits of home improvements

Enhanced comfort

Your home should be a positive and comforting place to be. When there are aspects of your home that you’re not happy with, it can create a negative environment. As the cost of living crisis takes its toll on people’s mental wellbeing, creating a safe and comfortable space is more important than ever.

Increased house value

Perhaps the biggest advantage to home improvements – increasing the value of your home. It’s important to make your home as valuable as possible if you’re looking to sell. A few touch ups and improvements here and there can make a significant difference to your home and increase its value substantially.

Better energy efficiency

Swapping out older elements, like lightbulbs, for more energy efficient ones is a great way to not only improve aesthetics but also keep costs down in the long run.

How to improve your home for less

Get painting

Painting is one of the easiest and most effective ways to transform a home. A fresh coat of paint on a tired looking wall or a splash of colour in a dull room can make all the difference in a bedroom, living room, or hallway. Professional decorators in Wales cost around £15 to £25 per hour or £150 to £190 per day, but you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself.

Kitchens and bathrooms can also benefit from a lick of paint. Painting kitchen cabinets is an easy way to modernise the space and bathrooms can be completely revamped with a bit of colour.

Upcycle furniture

With platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Gumtree, it’s easy to find inexpensive furniture that you can transform into great pieces for your home. Instead of spending hundreds of pounds in IKEA, you can spend significantly less purchasing old furniture that with some cleaning, sanding, and painting, can be remoulded into a lavish piece for your home.

Swap out old lighting

Lighting can make a huge difference to the ambiance of a room. Consider replacing old bulbs with energy efficient warm white LEDs. Not only will the room have a cosier feel, but you’ll also be lowering your energy bills.

Add a touch of nature

Plants are a great way to make a house feel more like a home, and they have plenty of health benefits. To keep costs down, fake plants are a great alternative. They offer the same aesthetic benefits but are less expensive and require very little maintenance.

Home improvements worth spending more on

Some aspects of home improvements are better left to the professionals in order to get it right the first time.

Upholstery cleaning

Refreshing something you already own is almost always a cheaper and easier alternative to buying brand new. Professional upholstery cleaning services start from £49 per hour which is significantly cheaper than re-carpeting your entire house or purchasing a new sofa which could set you back thousands. By giving dull furniture a good clean, you can give your home a new lease of life.

Electrics and plumbing

Whilst there is a lot you can do yourself, it’s important to leave things like plumbing or electrical elements to the professionals as it can be difficult, or even dangerous, and getting it wrong could cost you considerably more in repairs. On average, the hourly rate of an electrician is £33 and a plumber is £32 per hour in Wales.

Small changes can have a big impact

Improving your home during a cost of living crisis is entirely possible as long as you’re smart about it. By doing things yourself or giving old items a new lease of life, you can massively cut down on costs and give your home the refresh that it needs.

Entertainment

Is attending the theatre still popular in Wales despite technological advancements?

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2024

Staff Writer

The digital age is radically changing entertainment. As time passes, more shows are being released for online platforms, rather than having drawn-out residencies at theatres. This allows producers to showcase their work to billions of people worldwide, without having to put on a show, night after night.

A single show can be recorded at a prestigious venue, and then released in a format that allows the user to experience the performance at home. With that being said, trends like this don’t mean that theatre is dying out. In fact, it’s now more prevalent than ever.

Theatres are embracing technological advancements

Theatre is, in a way, more popular than ever right now. Various theatres are embracing the digital era by uploading their shows in a digital format, or by posting snippets of them on social media to try and encourage people to buy tickets.

By providing people with a snapshot of the experience they could be having, theatres can reach more fans, while encouraging attendance at venues across the country. The movement as a whole is comparable to that of the live casino sector. Live online casino games can be played across a range of devices, with the opportunity to connect with a live dealer in the same way you would if you attended a game at an establishment. This hasn’t taken away from traditional casinos, as it’s made such games more accessible for all.

The theatre sector is working in the same way, as people who don’t have an interest in theatre may be a bit reluctant to pay a lot of money for a show. This is especially the case if they have no idea what the story is about, or the theme of it. People can delve into stories and performances by uploading key moments of shows to social media. This can translate to more tickets being bought, helping to ensure that the art of theatre survives the digital transformation.

Source: Pexels

Theatres across Wales are thriving

Theatres across Wales, including the Wales Millennium Centre and the Venue Cymru are thriving right now. The Donald Gordon Theatre, which can be found at the Wales Millennium Centre, is the second biggest in Europe. It also hosts several opera performances, including drama and music celebrations. You also have the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, which is the biggest centre in Wales for art.

As bigger theatres find ways to navigate the digital era, smaller venues stand to benefit. Simple advancements like screens, effects and the opportunity to use digital tickets on a mobile device help to make the process of attending a show more convenient. Effects can also be programmed, using tech as a way to take the manual process of managing a show, out of the equation. This makes it easier to put on different shows, as the effort to manage each one is significantly reduced.

Another important element is that even though live-streaming theatre shows are helping to bolster the sector, the acoustics and atmosphere you get to experience when attending a show at the theatre cannot be compared. The thrill of hearing an opera singer live evokes emotion on a whole new level. Even though tech is paving the way for the theatre sector, and is helping to bring more people to shows, the shows themselves still have a lot to offer.

Regardless of how many shows might be uploaded to social media, YouTube or released on DVD, live shows will always have a place because they help to show a side that can only be experienced if you’re there in person. The way the performers connect with the audience cannot be translated the same through a digital format, so although live shows and digital releases benefit each other, live shows will always have something to offer music fans in Wales. With people travelling from across the country just to attend the live shows held here, it’s evident that the theatre scene is now thriving more than ever.