Marks and Spencer plans to close a popular high street store - with the full list of branches it is consulting over now confirmed. M&S may shut the doors of the Ilford,
London M&S for good soon as more people shop online. The retailer announced on March 15 that it is discussing the proposed closure of its Ilford store and broke the news to staff last week. An M&S spokesperson said the sales at the Ilford store in the Exchange shopping centre have been on a "consistent" decline so it is now re-evaluating the store's future. Nicholas Pucci, M&S regional manager, said: "Shopping habits are changing, so we're rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores with the right space to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience. READ MORE
Kate Middleton puts end to 'exhausting rumours on social media' “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 other stores in the local area." Shushila Patel, a regular shopper at Marks and Spencer, told The Sun: “Ilford has changed since I first came here in 1984. Then it changed in 1991, we had the Ilford Exchange. "Marks and Spencer together with Debenhams and other stores were like a hub where people met on Saturday before shopping. I personally really strongly believe that Marks and Spencer has been the cornerstone of our High Road, high street. "When shops like that go, they leave a void. And for Marks and Spencer to go, it won’t just leave a void, it will be the death of Ilford. I really feel that." M&S has not released a full list of all the stores it has earmarked for closure, but staff have just been notified of the intention for it to be closed. It includes Cheltenham - March 30, 2024, Peterborough - April 2024, Neath, Wales - May 2024 and Aberdeen,
Scotland - 2025 as well as Weymouth - exact date to be confirmed, Sunderland - exact date to be confirmed, Hexham - exact date to be confirmed, Bradford - exact date to be confirmed, Ilford - exact date to be confirmed and Blackburn - exact date to be confirmed.