The traditional Boxing Day sales may not attract such huge crowds in Bournemouth this year, with shoppers already having splurged on pre-Christmas offers.

At Castlepoint, queues will be forming as early as 2.30am on Boxing Day outside stores such as Next.

But, otherwise, Boxing Day will be “no busier than a normal weekday”, according to the General Manager, Peter Matthews.

He said: “Personally, I don’t find Boxing Day to be such a huge day anymore. If anything, the day after Boxing Day will be busier. Most of the clothing retailers, in particular, are already running sales, so there’s not much more they can offer customers.”

He added that the US phenomenon of Black Friday had shifted the festive sales focus onto the pre-Christmas period.

President of the Bournemouth Chamber of Commerce, Mandy Payne, said she did not think Boxing Day was a dying tradition but it would not have the “same buzz” as previous years because of the pre-Christmas sales.

She said: “As always, people like to get out and about and go into town after Christmas Day. So, the Boxing Day sales will still continue but there will be no mad dash like in previous years.”

Boxing Day sales

  • Boots has been known to discount items by as much as 75% in the Boxing Day sales
  • Rumour has it that Debenhams is having its biggest-ever 50% off sale on clothing, shoes and homewares starting after Christmas Day
  • The H&M Boxing Day sale has attracted crowds nearly as large as Next’s recently, with sales of up to 70% and more expected
  • Next is the traditional port-of-call for Boxing Day sales. This year, queues are expected to form outside the Castlepoint store at 2.30am for its 6am opening
  • WH Smith will be offering up to 80% off books and more as part of its sales.