MARKS and Spencer is to close a city centre store following a string of closures and shoppers are devastated.
M&S has around more than 400 branches across the UK, including in major cities like London, Leeds and Birmingham.
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But shoppers in Leicester may soon be left without a city centre store after the retailer revealed plans to close the store on Gallowtree Gate.
Shoppers have taken to social media to share their disappointment over the decision.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, one said: “It’s been a long time coming.”
Another wrote: “It’s felt inevitable really.”
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A third cried: “Retail in the city centre is dying. It’s sad.”
While a fourth describe it as a “real shame”.
An exact date for the closure is yet to be confirmed as the closure remains a proposal at this stage.
Calum Telford, M&S regional manager, said: “Shopping habits are changing and our store rotation strategy is all about making sure we have the right stores with the right space to deliver a brilliant shopping experience for our customers.
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“That means opening stores, investing in stores but also sadly closing others. As part of this transformation, we have made the tough decision to propose to close our Gallowtree Gate store in Leicester.”
If the closure goes ahead, workers will be offered alternative roles within M&S “wherever possible”.
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Back in 2022, Marks and Spencer announced plans to close some of its “lower productivity” stores as part of a five-year plan to shake up its branch portfolio.
The retailer, which runs 405 stores across the country, shut down locations in Manchester, Swindon and Birmingham between August and November last year.
Just recently it announced the closure of its Walworth store in South London, and its home store in Kingditch Trading Estate in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham.
It’s also consulting on the closure of its store in The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill.
If you want to know if your local might be next, we have the full list of M&S stores that are marked for closure in 2024.
However, the brand has continued to open new stores as part of its renewed expansion plans.
In January 2023, it announced it would open 20 more stores over the financial year.
At the same time, it said it’s opening 104 new “bigger and fresher” food stores.
It has opened 22 sites in the last 12 months, including in Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, and Manchester.
It comes after The Sun revealed that M&S is axing its furniture range as part of a huge shake-up.
The retailer is pulling the plug on the sale of bulkier and larger own-brand pieces of furniture, including beds, sofas, wardrobes and garden furniture.
Instead, it will work with third-party brands to sell these products on its website.
How to save money at M&S
M&S is known for drawing shoppers in with its good quality clothing, homeware and, of course, its delicious food.
If you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe, or your home, there really is something for everyone at M&S.
But it can be a little pricey, so knowing exactly what to hunt for is essential.
Shoppers at Marks and Spencer have revealed in the past how they bagged freebies at the store through its free Sparks Card rewards scheme.
Customers can pick up everything from croissants and cookies to the iconic Percy Pigs fir free.
Not only can you get freebies but, you can also bag discounts off whole product ranges like bedding and clothing too.
M&S is also popular for its affordable Dine In range.
On Valentine’s Day, it offered a dine-in deal for £25, for example.
The only thing you’ll have to keep in mind is that there might not be as much to choose from and stock just depends on what’s been left over from the event – this means it can vary from store to store.
Yellow sticker bargains are like gold dust to some shoppers.
Supermarkets, including M&S, will often reduce the price of food nearing its use by date to shift stock and avoid food wastage – and the store will flag these discounts with yellow stickers.
Sometimes shoppers can save up to 75% off products marked up in this way, so it’s worth keeping an eye out in the store.
OTHER HIGH STREET NEWS
Marks and Spencer is not the only retailer shaking things up and expanding its store count.
Several major retailers are expanding their presence on UK high streets.
Aldi has announced that it will open 35 new UK stores.
The openings form part of Aldi‘s long-term target of 1,500 stores in the UK.
The supermarket is set to invest £550million in expanding its UK footprint this year alone.
Aldi said that each new store opening will create around 40 new jobs on average.
Asda has been opening hundreds of convenience stores in recent months as it looks to rival major players Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
B&M plans to open “not less than” 45 brand new stores across the UK in each of the next two consecutive years.
The parent company of Bonmarché, Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM) and Peacocks, Purepay Retail Limited, has said it wants to open 100 new high street stores over the next 18 months.
It has yet to give the exact locations where it will open the 100 stores or when they will open.
One of the UK’s favourite bakery chain, Greggs, has exclusively revealed to The Sun plans to open more outlet branches by the end of 2025.
Home Bargains, which was running just under 600 branches as of last June, has said it wants to “eventually have between 800 and 1,000 retail outlets open”.
The major discounter has stopped short of saying when it wants to reach the 1,000 store target, however.
Primark is also opening new branches and investing and renovating more than a dozen of its existing shops.
Screwfix is set to open 40 new stores nationwide as its owner, Kingfisher, seeks to expand the DIY brand’s national presence.
The brand opened two new stores in March, and a further three new shops will open this month.
Tesco has revealed plans to open 70 more stores across the UK over the next year as part of major expansion plans.
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WHSmith has turned its focus to the travel side of its business, with plans to open new sites in airports, railway stations and hospitals.
Lidl is also looking to open 12 new stores across the UK as it bids to raise £91million in funding from investors.
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