Bullring 'absolutely' heaving for Boxing Day sales as city dodges Tier 4 status

[dutchman]

Birmingham's landmark shopping centre packed to the rafters as non-essential retail allowed to stay open for Boxing Day sales extravaganza - despite other parts of UK plunged into lockdown



Shoppers have flocked to the Bullring today for the Boxing Day sales after the city managed to avoid being plunged into Tier 4.

The landmark shopping centre was 'absolutely heaving' with people keen to get their hands on a bargain this afternoon (Dec 26) as shops remained open in Birmingham.

Dramatic photos, taken at around 4pm, showed escalators packed out with shoppers, with little to no social distancing observed.

Litter and empty takeaway cups were strewn across New Street as bargain hunters filled the streets.

The Bullring had earlier warned shoppers heading into the centre for Boxing Day sales to ensure masks were worn.

They took to Twitter to say: "Our winter sales are on NOW. Just in case those socks and chocolate gifts haven’t quite cut it… Don’t forget your face covering if you’re heading to see us today."

However, it's believed around one in five people were not observing this rule. The scenes in Birmingham came as several areas in England, mainland Scotland and Northern Ireland moved into a Tier 4 lockdown to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Our reporter said: "I reckon one in five weren't wearing a mask.

"Considering the conditions that we live in, all the other countries are going into full lockdown, it just feels like: 'What the heck is going on in Birmingham?

"Scotland and Northern Ireland are all going to lockdown and in Birmingham nobody gives a t***. There's probably about 70 per cent in their teens and early 20s.

"People are strolling around like its normal. The Bullring is heaving. I went in there and came straight back out."

Another city resident branded the photos 'obscene' as he added that it shouldn't 'be allowed to happen'.

"I think it's obscene they are allowing that to happen."

A third added: "You couldn't tell we’re in tier 3 if you go to the Bullring, just packed everywhere."

[rebbonk]

Seriously, if this virus is as bad as we keep hearing, why on earth was this allowed to happen? I'm left with three possible conclusions:-

1) The virus isn't as bad as we're being led to believe, or

2) The authorities either a) don't care, or

b) are totally incompetent.