SHOPPERS have been left devastated as Marks and Spencer is set to close a “perfect” store for good today.
The posh supermarket chain is rolling down the shutters for the last time on its Peterborough branch.
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The cherished Queensgate store used to be the go-to place for shoppers looking to spend time at the popular foodhall.
But they will now have to take their baskets elsewhere as staff announced it is closing for good.
M&S previously said the store would shut in April but did not reveal an exact date it would close.
However, the retailer then confirmed the branch will close for good today.
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Craig Burton, M&S regional manager, said: “Shopping habits are changing, so we’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience.
“In recent years we have invested over £31 million in our stores in the East of England and we look forward to working with the local council to bring forward plans for further future investment into Peterborough and the wider local area.
“We would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in the store, and we will be working hard to keep serving them in our local M&S Peterborough Brotherhood store.”
The move marked what many customers fear is the “beginning of the end” for the city’s shopping scene.
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Taking to Facebook, a loyal shopper slammed: “Our city is dying.”
Another added: “Such a shame. M&S was a real backbone to Queensgate and Peterborough city centre.
“Peterborough is becoming quite drab now unfortunately, no longer vibrant.”
M&S shopper have gone wild for their linen jumpsuits
The closure has left locals questioning where they will buy their favourite items now.
A local said: “For a so-called commuter town, it’s doing it sbest to drive people away.”
Another frustrated local fumed: “Buses are poor for those of us who don’t drive.”
Others voiced concern over the dwindling number of shops, with one blasting: “Soon there will be no shopping centre in town.”
Long-time customers, also weighting in, praised the store and said they were shocked to learn about the shutting.
A former M&S worker said: “So sad having worked in M&S all my working life to see this lovely store close is something we didn’t expect.”
Others fear the worst for the shopping centre, with one predicting: “Personally, I can see Queensgate being shut down.”
Another added, “Whole area so depressing & who would want to travel & visit.”
In October 2022, M&S announced it would shut 67 “lower productivity” locations over the following five years.
The 67 came as part of 110 that M&S had previously earmarked for closure.
At the same time, the retailer said it would open 104 new “bigger and fresher” stores as well, with some having already opened.
At the time of announcing the closures, M&S said it hoped they would save the business £300million in total.
Why is M&S closing?
M&S was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, announcing in 2021 it was planning on closing 30 stores.
This was in addition to the 59 clothing and food stores the retailer had already closed in previous years, plus 15 foodonly sites.
The closures were all part of a wider radical restructuring plan first announced in 2016, which aimed to close 110 stores by 2022.
In 2021, the business said it wanted to reduce its number of clothing and home shops down to 180 from 247 shops – but expand its Simply Food shops from 316 to 420.
It comes as other retailers struggle on the high street following a turbulent economic backdrop.
High inflation, which peaked in October 2022, has squeezed households’ incomes meaning they’ve got less money to spend.
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High energy and wage costs, and high business rates, have further put pressure on businesses.
Major retailers Wilko, Paperchase and The Body Shop have all fallen into administration since January last year.
What M&S stores are closing?
M&S has not issued a full list of where the 67 stores earmarked for closure are located. But it has started pulling down the shutters on some of them…
- Manchester – August 2023
- Swindon – October 2023
- Birmingham city centre – November 2023
- Barnsley’s town centre – November 2023
- Cheltenham – March 30, 2024
- Peterborough – April 2024
- Neath, Wales – May 2024
- Aberdeen, Scotland – 2025
- Weymouth – exact date to be confirmed
- Sunderland – exact date to be confirmed
- Hexham – exact date to be confirmed
- Bradford – exact date to be confirmed
- Blackburn – exact date to be confirmed
- Ilford, London – exact date to be confirmed
- Walworth, London – exact date to be confirmed
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
