Queen Mary says high street is about more than shops

She may be dubbed the queen of shops, but one of the most striking things as Mary Portas’s unveiled her high street review today was that shops was only part of it.

Portas in some ways took as realistic a view of the high street as the most fervent out-of-town retailer. She acknowledges many of the reasons why high streets are not such draws as they once were and she knows there is no prospect of recreating them in the sepia tones of nostalgia.

“What’s the future?” she asked. “I don’t think it’s more shopping.” Much as she might question the trend to out-of-town retail, she understands the extent of change in retail and society and that the successful high streets and town centres of the future need to offer something new. “We need to stop seeing our high streets as just shops,” she said. “What are the new magnets that will draw people to high streets?” She was referring to attractions ranging from galleries to restaurants to gyms.

At first sight that might not sound great for traditional retail. But a more vibrant high street generally will be a better trading environment for the stores that are still trading there in future - whether they’re part of big chains or single store enterprises. Whether the Portas review can stimulate that vibrancy remains to be seen. Next steps won’t become clear until next spring, when the Government will publish its response.

• Read all our coverage of the Portas Review here