High street giant to shut several stores from this week following string of closures – is your local affected?

A HIGH street giant is shutting several branches within days following a string of closures.

Marks and Spencer will pull down the shutters on three stores starting from this week.

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Its branch in Linthorpe Road, Middlesborough, is set to close on April 15.

The retailer has now confirmed closing dates for two further branches.

Its store in Deansgate, Bolton, is closing on April 15, while its shop in Castleford, West Yorkshire, is closing on April 22.

The retailer has already closed multiple branches, including in London and Edinburgh.

It comes as the company said it plans on closing 67 stores over the next five years.

However, the business also plans to open 104 new “bigger and fresher” food stores.

That includes 20 new stores across the UK this year, including in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester.

While the store shake-up is set to take place over the next five years, bosses have said they are aiming to have it completed within three.

It comes as the retailer took a £100million hit from soaring energy costs last year.

Marks and Spencer hasn’t confirmed the exact dates and locations for all of the closures yet.

However, it has confirmed it will close two more branches this year, without specific dates.

The two stores that will close are:

What other shops are closing?

Retailers have been struggling for years due to the increase in popularity of online shopping and reduced footfall following the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, soaring inflation means consumers have less money to spend and are cutting back.

Combined with increased energy and staffing costs, many retailers are feeling the pinch, and it’s not just M&S.

Stationery giant Paperchase recently closed all its 106 stores after collapsing into administration.

Meanwhile, M&Co is set to close all 170 of its stores forever as it launches huge sales.

B&Q closed eight stores last month too.

It’s not just retailers closing branches – Wetherspoon and Stonegate, which owns Slug and Lettuce and Be At One, are closing a number of boozers and restaurants this year.

Plus, banks and building societies are closing dozens of branches this month – including Barclays and HSBC.

The bank closures come as customers transition away from physical branches to online banking.

In other shopping news, major fashion retailer M&Co has confirmed 43 branches will be closing for good this month.

Meanwhile, B&M shoppers have been rushing to buy a “brilliant” furniture set scanning at the tills for £10 instead of £100.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk