Leicester Marks & Spencer closure date announced

The likely closing date for the Marks & Spencer store in Gallowtree Gate, Leicester city centre, has been revealed. The chain today told LeicestershireLive that the "provisional closure date" for the branch was Saturday, August 17.

The closure of the store, which sells clothes, homeware, beauty and food, follows the loss of the city centre branch of Sainsbury's in 2022 and the recent closure of Wilko in Charles Street. There are fears fewer people will be interested in visiting the city centre once M&S is also gone.

In a recent letter to the company's CEO, the chairman of Leicester Civic Society, Burt McNeill, said the other city centre shops were "struggling", and that losing M&S "could exacerbate the challenges they face". Mr McNeill said: "The city centre’s vitality depends on a mix of retailers, and your store is a key component of that ecosystem.

READ MORE: Petition launched to save Marks and Spencer in Leicester city centre

"Leicester’s city centre and its residents depend on Marks & Spencer."

There had been hopes the company might open an outlet store in the city or even keep a small supermarket. But the company, when asked about these possibilities, said the whole store would shut.

The company flagged its ongoing investment in its recently-revamped Fosse Park store. Calum Telford, the regional manager for M&S, told LeicestershireLive: “After consulting with our colleagues, we have a provisional closure date of Saturday, August 17, for our Gallowtree Gate store.

"I want to thank all our customers who have shopped with us at the store over the years and we will be working hard to continue serving them at our stores across Leicestershire. Individual conversations are continuing with our colleagues and wherever possible, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S.

"Shopping habits are changing and our store rotation strategy is all about making sure we have the right stores with the right space to offer a brilliant shopping experience. Sadly, that does mean taking the tough decision to close our Gallowtree Gate store.

"Since 2020, we have invested over £20 million in our stores across the East Midlands, alongside a multi-million-pound investment in our Castle Donington distribution centre, employing over 1,700 people. This year, we are also making our biggest single renewal investment to date at our Fosse Park store in Leicestershire.”

A change.org petition to save the M&S branch in Gallowtree Gate was set up after the initial announcement in early May this year. Many people expressed concerns about the loss of another city centre supermarket and the popular coffee shop.

Those were also issues also brought up in the Civic Society letter, in which Mr McNeill said: "For many older and less mobile residents, Marks & Spencer’s city centre location is accessible and convenient, allowing them to maintain their independence by doing their shopping locally.

"Marks & Spencer has become a haven, a place to buy quality food items for tea, meet friends, or just enjoy a quiet coffee. Losing this store would create a significant gap in the services available to these vulnerable groups."