Regent Street in central London has been synonymous with shopping for more than a century. Built in 1819, its grand Regency buildings are home to flagship shops from Hamleys to Burberry and Mulberry.
Yet today the street known as the “mile of style” is struggling to live up to its reputation as the beating heart of the West End.
Official figures suggest shoppers are down by more than 50%, though some retailers say the figure is closer to 90%. There are at least 17 empty or closed shops in Regent Street, including a big one at either end.
Many of the designer clothing shops were deserted on Tuesday afternoon last week, and the only queue in the once-packed street was outside the Apple shop, where
