Shoppers 'staying home to watch the Olympics' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Shoppers 'staying home to watch the Olympics'

5:11pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News

Bradford city centre businesses said they had not experienced a gold rush during the Olympics.

Some retailers said they had been quite busy but no more than usual during school holidays.

A representative from the Kirkgate Shopping Centre said there had been “no noticeable difference” in trading patterns.

Carol Denison, owner of coffee shop, The Red Room on Queensgate, said: “We have been really busy, especially a couple of weeks before the Olympics.

“I don’t think we’ve been particularly busier because of the Olympics, I think there is generally more people around in the centre at the moment.”

Businesses operating in Centenary Square near the big screen showing the Games have not noticed a surge either.

Megan Daly, duty manager at Turls and Green pub, in Centenary Square said: “We haven’t been directly affected by the Olympics despite having the big screen outside. When people come in and see the screen they do watch it, but we are usually busy in summer.”

Sabir Mrssa, manager at Jean Junction in Westgate, said: “Trade has been OK but possibly people aren’t coming to shop because they are at home watching the Olympics.”