With Miss Selfridge and Escape now shut and Jack Wills soon to follow, there’ll be three more empty shops within a few seconds walk of each other in the Arcade and Town Church area than there previously was.

Creasey’s recently announced plans to bring two new clothing brands to the island – with Whistles and Hobbs set to open in one of the firm’s High Street shops once Wallis has fully relocated upstairs.

Peter Creasey told Express that no decision has yet been made on what will go around the corner in the Commercial Arcade, where Miss Selfridge used to be. But he did say that some of the brands people had asked for, off the back of the recent Express poll, wouldn’t open branches in that vacant shop because of size constraints.

Shoppers in Guernsey had told Express they’d like to see new brands including Primark, River Island, Zara and H&M. 

Other suggestions had including the national retailer Lush, or town branches of local businesses such as Valpys or a resurgence of former Guernsey ‘department stores’ like Le Lievres, Quayside or St David’s. A traditional bakery like the former Maison Carre was also suggested. 

Responding to the poll itself, 164 readers chose their preferred option for what could go into vacant shops.

Of the options given, which included ‘other’ so people could make their own suggestions, the majority said they want to see more men’s clothes shops in Guernsey.

22% of respondents chose that option, compared to just under 18% who wanted to see more female clothes shops. 17% would like to see more shops selling locally made products while just over 12% would like more children’s clothes shops.

Home furnishings and book shops secured 6% and 5% of the votes respectively with fewer people choosing retailers like toys shops, supermarkets, coffee shops and gift shops.

However, no decisions have been made yet on what could go in any of the newly vacant shops in town, with Mr Creasey saying there is still a chance we could see a new brand in the former Miss Selfridge shop.

“We are keeling an open mind on the Arcade, but it will either be something new or a relocation from another site,” he said.

Pictured top: The new empty Miss Selfridge shop front in the Commercial Arcade.