What readers think should fill the space when M&S leaves Leicester city

Just over a week ago, retail giant Marks and Spencer told LeicestershireLive it was planning to leave the city centre site. On the day the news broke, an M&S spokesperson said the company had made the "tough" decision about the huge Gallowtree Gate branch due to shopping habits changing

The company needed to make sure it had the right stores to deliver a "brilliant shopping experience", they added. The news was met with dismay from many.

Marjorie Oldfield spoke to LeicestershireLive outside the Gallowtree Gate M&S store after the news broke. She labelled the closure "very sad".

READ MORE: New details of Fosse Park Marks and Spencer expansion plan revealed

She also speculated over what the huge space could be turned into. She said: "It has been going for years since I was a child. It will not be the same without it here. Will it be turned into another Poundshop?"

There has also been a range of comments on the website, with people wondering what the space could be used for next and putting forward their preferred choices for its future. One shopper said: "I’d love to see The Range and a new Wilko together taking over that space. Would bring a lot of people into the city."

Another said: "Hopefully we will have multiple shops in that huge site." A third reader posted: "That’ll be one very big charity shop in six months."

One person suggested: "Put the market in there. Leave the current site for events." One shopper added, perhaps sarcastically: "We could convert it to student flats."

Over on Facebook, the speculation continued. Another reader said: "Not only is this a massive blow to the high street, but it is impossible to think of any retailer who would take on such a large store, maybe it will become more council offices." While other readers again suggested it would become "student flats" or perhaps "fast food options."

One said: "Wonder what will go in its place maybe a bank or another fast food or chicken shop, or a Tesco?" A further comment offered up the suggestion it "will probably end up a Lidl or Aldi" and others questioned the likelihood of a B&M store or JD Sports.

Others just went to Facebook to lament the loss. The overwhelming feeling on the social media platform was that the food hall and café area at least should stay, with comments including: "I think M&S should still have a food department for folk getting a sarnie or treat or two for their tea."

Another said: "It's a shame they can't just keep the food hall. Bad decision to close down." One reader said: "They must do an M&S food store for all the elderly people who rely on them for their shopping." While another mused: "The food hall will be missed the most and the cafe."

Another said simply: "Losing the food hall is the worst." Another reader agreed: "Keep the food hall. It’s always busy and the people that use it probably won’t go to Fosse Park. One said, simply: "It would be good to keep the food hall."

On the day news of the closure was announced, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Over the decades, Leicester like other cities has seen many big names come to the end of their life. Many people will remember C&A, Lewis’s, BHS and Fenwick. While it’s painful at the time, the city centre has continued to be remarkably resilient with more new businesses moving in to fill the gaps.

“Although it’s sad when they leave, it does give an opportunity for new life and new business, and the city council’s investment in the city centre over recent years has been very successful in attracting new growth and renewed confidence.”

Calum Telford, M&S regional manager, said: “Shopping habits are changing and our store rotation strategy is all about making sure we have the right stores with the right space to deliver a brilliant shopping experience for our customers. That means opening stores, investing in stores but also sadly closing others. As part of this transformation, we have made the tough decision to propose to close our Gallowtree Gate store in Leicester. We would like to thank all our customers who have shopped at the store over the years."