Quintain boast of defeating impact of rail strikes as LDO sales soar during Ed Sheeran concert dates

 

In a previous post LINK I asked if the provision of mass car parking on a field in Fryent Country Park by Labour Brent Council had been arranged to defeat the impact of the RMT rail strike during the Ed Sheeran concerts. I suggested Labour councillors might ask the question.

In a press release today Quintain don't mention these alternative arrangements and boast in the face of a cost of living strike that they earned lots of money over the weekend:

Undeterred Ed Sheeran fans triggered a trading surge for stores and restaurants across Wembley Park despite rail strike chaos during the red-headed rocker’s gigs at Wembley Stadium. 

Total sales across the world-famous 15-minute neighbourhood, including London Designer Outlet (LDO), were up by 83% compared to the average performance of each weekend throughout May.   

 

The business boost between Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June came amid the biggest rail strike in a generation, with swathes of determined ‘Sheerios’ causing footfall at LDO to climb by +45% compared to May’s weekend average. 

 

Hospitality businesses were teaming with Sheeran superfans enjoying themselves ahead of the concerts, with sales at LDO up by two-thirds (+64%) compared to the May weekend average.  

 

Sales at sports and athleisure brands at London’s leading fashion and lifestyle outlet climbed by over two-thirds (+68%), accessories and gifts by +61%, mixed fashion by a quarter (+26%) and health and beauty by 15%.

 

Wembley Park and LDO are enjoying a summer trading boom following the return of more large-scale events at the Stadium and Arena. Earlier this month, Harry Styles sparked a sales surge across the 15-minute neighbourhood and LDO – capital’s leading premium fashion and lifestyle outlet destination.

 

The latest trading figures also revealed that the Shape of You star’s sway over shoppers was greater than that of the ex-One Direction heartthrob’s – with sales across the neighbourhood and LDO during Sheeran’s gigs 4% higher than during Styles’.

 

Other upcoming events at Wembley Stadium that are expected to bolster footfall and sales across the neighbourhood include the UEFA Women’s Euro Final on 31 July, Westlife on 6 August, Coldplay between 12 and 20 August and the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert on 3 September.

 

A host of other events and performances are also taking place at OVO Arena Wembley over the coming months, including The Libertines on 23 July and The National Television Awards 2022 on 15 September. 

 

Matt Slade, Retail Director at Quintain, said: “We’ve enjoyed a Perfect Symphony of world-class stars helping to drive footfall and sale across Wembley Park and London Designer Outlet this summer.

 

“Despite the prospect of the most disruptive rail strikes in a generation grinding London to a hault, Sheerios proved themselves to be a determined fanbase – arriving en-masse at Wembley Park and LDO to enjoy a spot of shopping or grabbing a bite to eat while they waited for the concerts to begin.

 

“It really is testament to Wembley Park’s varied and dynamic offer that visitors continue to flock back to in greater numbers than 2019, enjoy our unparalleled combined retail and leisure offer.”

 

Will Ed Sheeran 'Park & Walk' in Fryent Country Park set a precedent?

 

 There was a bit of a buzz on social media yesterday about Fryent Country Park being used as a car park for the Ed Sheeran concerts at Wembley Stadium.  I had seen for myself crowds heading towards Wembley along The Paddocks (rather than the advertised Kings Drive route) often with young children in tow so investigated.  The result was the video above.

Some of the people I spoke to were concerned about the length of the walk (25 minutes was advertised) and particularly anxious about getting back to the field in darkness after the concert.

The recommended route

 

There were complaints about '25 quid to park in a field' lthough that compares with £40 in Wembley Park.

I do not know whether the arrangements were made ahead of the RMT rail strikes or because of them. Labour councillors may be interested to find out to see whether the effect was to undermine union action.

The main issue for locals is whether this will set a precedent, Fryent Way has been used as a coach or car park before for large events, but going into the park  proper is new.  

The new stadium was much vaunted as a public transport destination but that intention has since been overtaken by car park development in the stadium area and local residents renting out their driveways on event days.  Ironically, Brent Council itself took action against Chalkhill Primary School to prevent it making additional income to improve educational opportunities for its children by letting out its playground for event day parking. 

It would be interesting to know where the 'Park and Walk' earnings will be going.

Does Brent Council need planning permission to convert a green space into a car park business?

This is the official information on the Wembley Stadium website:

Fryent Park Car Parking

Event day parking will also be available at Fryent Park (W3W: firms.fully.daring) on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th June, just a 25 minute walk north of the stadium. A map of the car park can be found here. 

This car park will be operational from 1200 on each event day and all walk routes will be signposted to and from the stadium. 

Parking is available at £25 per vehicle: Please visit Wembley’s Park The Car Here website for more details. All event day parking must be pre-booked, otherwise car park access will not be permitted on the day.