M&S is set to continue its physical expansion with the opening of a brand-new store and a major relocation in key South West England destinations, Bath and Bristol.
First, in Bath, M&S is investing £17 million in an all-new 83,000 sq.ft. store at the British Land-operated SouthGate shopping centre. This store will feature M&S’s extensive Clothing & Beauty ranges alongside M&S Food, moving from its current Stall Street location. The opening date for SouthGate has yet to be announced.
Secondly, M&S is returning to Bristol city centre with a £ 21 million investment in a new 80,000 sq.ft. flagship store at Cabot Circus shopping destination. Like the Bath store, it will offer Clothing & Beauty and M&S Food. The opening, which is yet to be announced, is expected to create approximately 150 new jobs.
M&S currently operates over 45 stores across the South West, employing more than 4,000 staff. These new investments build on the £ 6 million spent on existing South West stores over the past three years.
Both the Bath and Bristol projects are part of M&S’s “store rotation strategy,” aimed at ensuring the right stores are in the right locations and with the right space to provide a brilliant shopping experience for customers.
CEO Stuart Machin said, “We’ve seen great results so far where we have relocated stores, in city centres like Liverpool and Birmingham, helping us to attract new customers and giving us the confidence to go faster with the strategy.”
In its recent full-year results, M&S announced plans to open up to four new full-line stores across the UK in the current financial year.
