READING town centre has been hit hard during the pandemic, like many other high streets up and down the country.
These popular shops now stand as empty and sad looking units.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, non-essential retailers suffered a terrible time facing closures during busy periods such as Black Friday, Christmas and Mother's Day.
So with shops closed, shoppers relied on online shopping instead.
READ MORE: Vigil for Woodley cow sees mourners pay respects and lay flowers
As a result, business owners have had to rely on government grants and schemes to survive.
Shops were only allowed to reopen for the first time this year on April 12 but high-street giants like Primark documented record sales.
So, more than a year since the pandemic, how many shops in Reading survived?
ALSO READ: 5 Reading pubs that you DON'T have to book
The Reading Chronicle visited St Mary's Butts, Broad Street, Cross Street and Minster Street to see how many units were empty in the key shopping areas.
Here's what we discovered:
St Mary's Butts
Sonning Flowers unit
Pizza Express, St Mary's Butts
Co-op bank, St Mary's Butts
Broad Street
Reading town centre is a sorry sight with many shops empty and lifeless.
Thorntons closed all of their shops back in March 2021 following a "tough and challenging retail environment".
Clinton cards was another store that failed to survive.
Minster Street
This is the only shop down this street that isn't open.
Gun Street
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel