‘Complete madness’ say shoppers as M&S confirms ANOTHER closure within days

M&S has confirmed another store closure which has left many shoppers confused.

The retailer has announced it will be closing its M&S cafe in the Foohall in Didcot within days. 

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The cafe located on Orchard Street will serve its last drinks on March 23 after an internal review by the major retailer. 

Locals took to Facebook to share their disappointment and confusion at hearing the news. 

One user fumed: “Pathetic the cafes are always buy what is the reason behind this?”

“If they close the cafe they no longer have to provide toilet facilities,” another appointed out

A third user said: “Such a lovely cafe, seemed busy, what’s happening?”

“Madness Utter madness,” said someone else. 

An M&S spokesperson told The Sun: “Following a review, we have informed colleagues at our Didcot store that the café will be closing on 23 March. 

“Whilst we understand some people will be disappointed by this news, we can reassure customers that our Didcot store will continue serving shoppers as normal and all colleagues will continue working in other roles in store.”

M&S has around 300 cafes across the country but this isn’t the first M&S cafe closure that has been announced in recent months. 

The retailer closed its M&S cafe in Cookstown and Hollingbury, Brighton last year. 

Which M&S stores are going to close?

M&S has not issued a full list of where the 67 stores earmarked for closure are located.

But, it has already pulled down the shutters on some of them.

Here is the most recent list of shops which are set to close or have already shut in the past few months:

• Manchester – August 2023
• Swindon – October 2023
• Birmingham city centre – November 2023
• Barnsley’s town centre – November 2023
• Cheltenham – April 2024
• Peterborough – April 2024
• Aberdeen – 2025
• Weymouth – exact date yet to be confirmed
• Sunderland – exact date to be confirmed

However, M&S confirmed last month it plans to open 104 new “bigger and fresher” food stores as well, while several already cutting the ribbon.

What is happening to the high street?

Many retailers have been struggling to get by over the past few years.

The pandemic was a tough blow as many stores had to close during lockdown.

Since then energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.

This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

For the most part, supermarkets have braved the storm as they provide essential items like food and drink.

Asda opening 21 new stores this year and it builds plans to covert 470 stores it has acquired from Co-op.

Other retailers have not been so lucky, The Body Shop is currently going through administration and announced plans to close half of its 198 stores with seven already closing.

Boots revealed it would be closing 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to evolve its brand.

WHSmith told The Sun it has no plans to open anymore more high street stores as it wants to focus on the travel side of its business.

Major banks have also announced multiple branch closures.

Barclays is to start pulling the shutters down on 14 sites in England, three in Wales and three in Scotland as soon as April.

Even charity shops are struggling Oxfam confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.

Retailers closing stores in 2024

RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

High energy costs and a move to shopping online are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

Here’s a list of all the big-name brands closing stores this year:

• Argos – The brand announced plans to close 100 standalone UK branches last year as it looks to move away from the high street and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
• B&Q – The chain has over 300 shops across the UK, so chances are you have one near you, but some stores have closed in recent months.
• Boots – The health and beauty chain announced that it would be closing 300 stores last July. Closures are ongoing and this will see the retailer’s estate reduced from 2,200 to 1,900 shops.
• Clintons – Clintons mulled plans to close 38 shops in a bid to avoid insolvency late last year. We’ve listed the stores affected.
• Costa Coffee – The caffeine giant has around 2,000 sites nationwide, so chances are you’ll have one near you. The chain has shut the doors to dozens of its sites recently. We’ve revealed which stores are due to close this year.
• Iceland – The supermarket has more than 900 stores but closed nearly two dozen sites in 2023, and more selected shops are due to shut.
• Lidl – The supermarket, which has 950 stores, is changing up shop locations, which has meant that some stores have to close. But the retailer is also looking to open 12 new supermarkets.
• M&S – M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, has been closing a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers. It’s not all bad news, though, because the chain also has big plans to open dozens of new shops as well.
• Trespass – The firm announced in July last year that it was closing six branches, but more are on the way.
• WHSmith – The retail giant, which runs over 1,100 stores, has shuttered eight stores since March 2023, but more are coming.

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk