Before today I could not imagine why people would wake up in the early hours of the morning to line up outside of a shopping centre. But when I arrived at the Victoria Centre at around 5.20am a line of more than 200 people had formed in the darkness for Next's post-Christmas sale, with the queue next to Urban Outfitters growing ahead of the shopping centre's opening at 6am.
Despite the large crowds involved, there were no hectic scenes as workers opened the doors and signalled the queue forward, despite one or two half-hearted jogs towards Next, where the line halted again. The real action came when the Next shutters went up and the shoppers were allowed to filter in, with customers racing to clothing rails and throwing garments into their red bags.
While some used a scattergun method of grabbing as much as they could and then sorting through the contents in a quiet corner, parents described methodically planning their approach to sort coats and jackets for next year, while others had just swooped in opportunistically. Awadh Salim, 53, a technician from Aspley, was the first person to get through the tills and out of the shop.
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He said: “I think I was the first one to get to the tills. I only got here at 5.45am, I thought I would pop in after speaking to the missus.
"I’ve picked up a winter coat for my son and some shirts. I had a plan and executed it and got out of there. It’s a good sale, it is worth it, it is tradition as well.”
Bisma Noor, 33, a mum-of-three and student nurse, from Carlton, said: “I got here later, at about 5.55am. It is less hectic this year, I’ve come every year since having children - it was very civilised and calm. I got a few clothes for my husband and kids - I’ve got them coats and jackets for next year.”
Adam Lewcock, 23, who works in a care home and lives in Forest Fields, said: “I got here at 7.10am and thought I would have a look before work. I’ve picked up some jumpers and jeans, so it’s been good. I worked through Christmas so it was good to have a shop around, I’ve queued up before in previous years.”
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