"Huge new M&S to open in Leamington as two Warwickshire stores shut"

Staff will move from the branches that are closing to the new branch



Marks & Spencer will close two stores in Warwickshire, with all staff moving over to its new branch in Leamington, the retail giant has confirmed.

The Foodhall in Market Street, Warwick, will close on August 10, the day before the new Foodhall at Leamington Shopping Park, in Tachbrook Road, opens its doors to customers.

Staff at the Warwick store will move straight to the new M&S at Leamington Shopping Park.

Workers at the Royal Priors Shopping Centre branch in Leamington will transfer to the new store nearby when it launches Clothing and Home departments, as well as a 130-seat M&S café, this autumn.

The retailer intends to shut around 30 sites after closing 59 clothing and food stores plus 15 food-only sites and eight outlets under previously-outlined plans.

The closures form part of the company's efforts to streamline after it recorded a £201 million pre-tax loss for the year to March 27.

Matt Western, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, said: "While there will be a new M&S department store opening in the Shires retail park, many people will be disappointed this means the loss of its much-loved stores in Warwick and in Leamington’s Royal Priors Shopping Centre.

"Out-of-town shopping parks are simply not sustainable as we’ve seen in the US where their development started 35 to 40 years ago - with many now facing closure.

"Also people with limited mobility in our towns and villages will find it very difficult to access the new store and I’m sure many will still be bemoaning the loss of the supremely accessible Warwick supermarket – with far superior transport links.

"You have to question the firm’s ethics and commitment to the communities it represents – especially after reneging on its 2019 promise to retain the Warwick store."