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- Tesco to hand back £585m of business rates relief
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- Follows criticism for paying dividends to shareholders
- From October: Tesco’s £315m dividend must look indecent to Covid-hit hospitality firms
Queues also formed outside other retailers on Oxford Street before this morning’s reopening… including outside Debenhams, which faces liquidation.
Debenhams has launched a massive stock clearance sale this morning, after administrators decided to start winding the company up after failing to find a buyer.
Nike Town and Uniqlo some of bigger queues on Oxford St.. as trainer maker releasing special gear today.. pic.twitter.com/htTizBDH1s
More photographers than shoppers outside Debenhams as well in icy conditions on Oxford St.. not exactly a dash for the sale rails.. pic.twitter.com/RLHrAwWP7I
Queue now.. as Debenhams about to open “it’s very sad about people’s jobs. I’m hoping for some bargains” sums up the general view from the queue.. pic.twitter.com/8sMSEFEcOX
England’s high streets returned to business slowly and tentatively before dawn this morning, my colleague Sarah Butler reports
There were queues outside some Primark stores as they became some of the first to open their doors at 7am.
Keen shoppers queue for Nottingham Primark reopening https://t.co/BFEvuxVrR4 pic.twitter.com/KKySdZSBiu
And we’re off.. Primark First to open on Oxford St at 7am .. about 20 people in the queue and almost as many photographers.. pic.twitter.com/8Vecv8CyFW
Standing in the queue outside the cut-price fashion store, which was still bringing in trollies full of Primark stock after the doors opened, Gabriella Abrile, 21, said “I’m so excited. It’s a very good store. I’m here to buy gifts.”
Several other shoppers said they were popping in on their way to work. Tracey Banks, 57, said she had been keen to get back into stores as “I’m old, I like to touch and feel things. I don’t like to just look at a picture.
Related: Queues form as England's high streets reopen after lockdown
