New research reveals the best cities in the UK for independent retailers.
Posted on in Business News
Research by global fintech company SumUp has revealed the best cities in the UK for independent businesses.
By looking at the top ten industries for independent businesses and assessing how many there are in each city, they have created a list of the top ten locations. Each city was assigned a final index score and ranked accordingly.
London tops the list as the best city for fostering and thriving as an independent business with a total score of 13.45. London is packed with historic antique stores, as well as many new independent restaurants and cafes. It’s home to the most independent coffee shops, and with as many as 166. The streets are also packed with quirky one-of-a-kind shops with areas such as Shoreditch, Notting Hill, or Marylebone ideal if you’re searching for unique items in the city.
Next up on the UK list is Bristol, which follows closely behind with a score of 12.05. Bristol has a similarly vibrant independent shopping scene, where you can find stores specialising in everything from plants and jewellery to artisan coffee. Many of Bristol’s shopping streets are adorned with independent boutiques, and if you’re searching for distinctive items in the city, head to The Galleries or The Arcade. Bristol also ranks particularly high for the number of independent takeaways, with as many as 143 dotted around the city.
Birmingham claims the third spot on the list, with a total score of 11.55. The independent business scene in Birmingham is rapidly growing, and shoppers are spoilt for choice with a range of regal looking arcades. The great Western Arcade and Piccadilly Arcade feature an array of small independent stores waiting to be explored. Bristol is also high up on the list for the number of independent barbers, with as many as 198 in the city.
In the penultimate spot for the UK is Glasgow, which has a total score of 11.45. Glasgow is home to a thriving creative scene, and its independent shops reflect this liveliness. The Hidden Lane, for example, is home to a mix of independent studio shops selling fashion, art, and homeware. Glasgow also has an impressive 102 independent bakeries, and there’s a high demand for sweet treats in the city.
Last up on the list for the UK is Leeds, with a total score of 11.35. There’s no shortage of independent businesses in Leeds, and there’s multiple unique stores scattered around the city. The Corn Exchange is perhaps the central hub for independent shopping in Leeds, with its impressive collection of unique vendors, independent jewellers, and record stores. Leeds is also home to 140 independent nail salons.
The cities that failed to make the top 10 include popular tourist destination Nottingham which placed in 13th and Brighton surprisingly placed in 15th place, despite being known for independent businesses across The Lanes.
Corin Camenisch, product marketing lead, at SumUp commented: “Whilst the sheer number of independent businesses in each city is a crucial part of our research, the quality of the businesses reflected by customer reviews is a powerful indicator of both success and satisfaction within each city.”