The omicron variant’s spread in December took its toll, with the number of people visiting London’s major shopping district down by almost a fifth on the last weekend before Christmas compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Clothing retailers like Superdry, best known for its jackets emblazoned with Japanese characters, are looking to reap the fruits of their high-street efforts in the near future. Superdry opened a flagship store on London’s Oxford Street in November, after last year was marked by shop closures.