Marks & Spencer to open new flagship stores in Bristol and Bath
Marks & Spencer has announced plans to open new flagship stores in the South West in Bristol and Bath.
The 80,000 Bristol store at Cabot Circus will mark a return to the centre of the city for M&S while the 83,000 square foot Bath store will be a relocation from Stall Street to the SouthGate Shopping Centre.
The moves form part of the retailer’s store rotation strategy that aims to ensure that it has the “right stores in the right place and with the right space”.
M&S will be investing £17 million and £21 million respectively in the Bath and Bristol stores.
The Cabot Circus opening will complement the retailer’s existing offer across Bristol, including its Avonmeads, Eastgate, Imperial Park and Whiteladies Road stores as well as Cribbs Causeway and Longwell Green. Work is currently underway to transform the Cribbs Causeway store.
While the Stall Street store in Bath will continue trading until the SouthGate store is ready to open, all colleagues at Stall Street will have the opportunity to relocate to the new shop.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said at the retailer’s AGM yesterday: “We want to offer the best possible shopping experience for customers every single time they shop with us. This new £17 million investment in a flagship Bath store means we can deliver on that promise and secure M&S’ future in the city.”
Speaking of the Bristol store, he added: “It’s brilliant to be announcing our return to Bristol city centre today. At Cabot Circus, we’re able to create a flagship store which delivers the best possible shopping experience for customers and showcases the very best of M&S.”
The retailer currently has over 45 stores across the South West.
