CUSTOMERS have had enough "doom and gloom" as many Winchester retailers do well in the sales.

Many traders are upbeat as the city continues to fend off the recession and stride towards recovery.

The news at High Street clothing store, Phase Eight, was particularly rosy.

It opened three years ago and its manager, Amanda Furness, said sales were up on 12 months ago, and 10 per cent ahead of this winter's targets.

She added that the Winchester branch had the best sales figures in the chain, except the Oxford Street store in London.

One of the city's oldest firms, Warrens and Son stationers, which opened in High Street in 1835, also fared well.

Managing director, Paul Morgan, said footfall was slightly down, yet takings had improved.

He added that the VAT rise on January 1 had little effect, as most of their products were not that expensive.

However, there was a rush on December 31 at one of Winchester's newest retailers, Maxims Boutique.

It opened in Stockbridge Road in November and sells imported luxuries from Italy and France.

Proprietor, Rachel James, said she would not pass the VAT hike onto customers until the new lines arrived in February.

She said: "I think there's still some savvy buyers out there who want a good product and that's what we give them.

"I think we're going to do really well and people have now had enough doom and gloom."

Winchester BID, which promotes the city's retail district, said it was well placed to cope with the economic climate.

Its spokeswoman, Amy McCartan, said: "Credit crunch resistant consumers are people aged over 55, with the majority retired, and 36 per cent of Winchester district residents fall into this category, which is above the UK average.

"In a report carried out by CACI it has rated Winchester ninth out of the top 15 UK credit crunch resistant retail destinations.

"We are hopeful that trade will increase on last year as consumers become ever more confident that the worst of the recession is over."

However, one store has closed its doors, with Charles Baynham butchers leaving the High Street.

Having opened seven years ago, its closure last week means that central Winchester no longer has any butchers apart from market traders.

How do you think traders are doing? What do you think about the Charles Baynham quitting the city? Leave your comments below.