Iconic high street stores to disappear from town centres in just weeks due to poor sales figures

Marks and Spencer has announced the closure of seven stores this year
Andrew Matthews
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 21/02/2023

- 16:07

The high street giant has announced the closure of more than half a dozen stores

Marks and Spencer has confirmed that seven of its sites will shut for good this year due to poor sale figures caused by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

Last year, the high street chain announced that 67 shops would close as part of a major shake-up.


M&S say the closures of the "lower productivity, full line stores" will take place over the next three years.

The chain has now declared the closure of seven sites this year with 60 more earmarked.

EMBARGOED TO 0001 FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17 File photo dated 12/02 2023 of a Marks and Spencer's store on Oxford Street, central London. M&S has topped an annual supermarket satisfaction survey, beating Waitrose and fighting off competition from discounter Aldi. Issue date: Friday February 17, 2023.
A total of 67 M&S stores are set to close over the next three years
James Manning

While full department stores are to close, M&S is looking to open 104 more Foodhalls over the next three years.

Many of the new stores are expected to reopen in the same area or location as those earmarked for closure.

The move is part of a wider overhaul to deliver around £400 million in cost savings.

Branches in Edinburgh, East Kilbride, Cardiff will be closing within weeks, with the earliest closure taking place this month.

M&S is looking at closing its stores in Bolton, Middlesbrough and Castleford, following proposals.

An M&S spokesperson said: “We recently announced that we are investing £480m in bigger, better stores across the UK.

"Our store rotation and investment programme is about making sure we have the right stores, in the right place, with the right space.

“Whilst our store rotation programme involves closing some stores, it also means relocating and opening new stores in locations across the country."

File photo dated 07/11/21 of a Marks and Spencer store on Oxford Street in London. One of the UK's biggest high-street brands will reveal how the soaring cost of living is impacting customers in the run-up to Christmas as it updates investors next week. Issue date: Sunday November 6, 2022.
Stores are set disappear from town centres in just weeks due to poor sales figures
Charlotte Ball

Surging energy costs and a shift to shopping online following the pandemic has impacted the high street.

The closures, including proposals are as follows:

East Kilbride Shopping Centre - February 25

Carlton Street, Castleford - end of April

Meadowbank retail park, Edinburgh - spring

Newport Road, Cardiff - spring

Eagles Meadow, Wrexham - autumn

Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough - April

Deansgate, Bolton - date to be confirmed