Marks and Spencer confirmed the closure of 11 of its in-stores cafes nationwide, and the opening of one more store before Christmas. The high street giant, which operates more than 300 food shops across the UK, will see fewer than 4% of its locations affected by the closures.
Branches in Anlaby, Hull, and Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, are amongst those which will close for good in 2025. A spokesperson explained earlier this year: “As we look to modernise our food business and offer the best of M&S Food to more people, more often, we’re investing in our store estate to give our customers the widest possible product range. This includes opening brand-new coffee shops offering delicious food and barista-made fairtrade coffee, including at our brand-new Bristol Cabot Circus store.
“In some of our small Food stores, where customers want a greater range of M&S Food, our transformation also involves repurposing cafe space across 11 small food stores, out of over 300 M&S cafes, coffee shops and coffee-to-go locations.”
The announcement followed the closure of M&S’ Wolverhampton city centre branch on Dudley Street. The landmark shop, which first opened its doors in 1929, shut permanently on September 27.
Despite the cafe closures, the retailer’s transformation strategy includes launching additional food halls, with several new food stores opening ahead of Christmas, generating 200 employment opportunities. The retail giant unveiled a new market-style Foodhall on Southampton Street, Covent Garden, on October 15, and also relaunched two revamped Foodhalls in Temple Fortune and Wimbledon.
November also welcomed two additional Foodhalls in South London, located at Clapham Common and Fulham Broadway.
