Tattoo parlours taking over UK high streets

New research data reveals that tattoo parlours have become the biggest growth sector in Britain’s town centres. While other sectors have struggled due to the economic crisis over the last few years, tattoo parlours have thrived.

It’s also helped that tattoos are becoming more and more mainstream, boosting the number of parlours to more than double since the financial crash.

The top 650 British towns have an impressive 1, 014 tattoo parlours. The figure was up more than 4.5% from 2013, when there were 970 parlours in the same town centres.

The research, carried out by LDC (Local Data Company) said that between 2009 and 2013, the growth rate of tattoo parlours in the town centres topped 141%.

In the same period charity shops expanded by a rate of 36% to 5,010 outlets, while betting shops increased by 32% (2,943) and chain coffee stores rose by 29% (1,981).

Over recent years the number of people going under the needle has shot up.

Tatted celebrities like singer Cheryl Cole and footballers like David Beckham are fuelling the trend.