Two major retailers are closing 10 shops across the UK this weekend
New blow for High Street as Marks and Spencer and M&Co shut branches tomorrow – is your nearest outlet affected?
- Eight of M&Co’s shops will be closing forever tomorrow joined by two M&S sites
Shoppers will be hit with a fresh blow this weekend after two major retailers announced they were closing 10 shops forever tomorrow.
Fashion giant M&Co will be axing eight of its sites across Cheshire, Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Scotland on Saturday.
It’s part of the latest round of closures after the firm announced in February it would shut all 170 of its shops – putting 1,910 jobs at risk.
And in a double blow for Britain’s beleaguered high streets, upmarket shop Marks and Spencer will also be closing two of its sites tomorrow.
The news comes amid a crisis in Britain’s retail trade, which has seen major firms including B&M, Argos and H&M announcing closures in 2023.
Pictured are the locations of all the M&Co shops set to close up shop forever on Saturday after the fashion giant announced earlier this year it would be shutting all 170 of its branches
Some M&Co branches, like this one in Broad Street, have already shut down – with more set to wrap up later this year
And Marks and Spencer has announced it will be closing two of its shops on Saturday, bringing the total number shutting up for good this weekend to 10
Full list of shop closures this weekend
M&Co:
- Congleton – April 15
- Egham – April 15
- Faversham – April 15
- Haverhill – April 15
- Orkney – April 15
- Peterhead – April 15
- Sleaford – April 15
- Sudbury – April 15
Marks & Spencer:
- Middlesbrough – April 15
- Bolton – April 15
The latest casualties to close on April 15 include M&Co’s outlets in Congleton, Egham, Faversham, Haverhill, Orkney, Peterhead, Sleaford and Sudbury.
While M&S is shutting two of its stores for good tomorrow – its branch in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, and its store in Deansgate, Bolton, The Sun has reported.
High Streets nationwide have taken a battering in recent months, with a double whammy of the coronavirus and skyrocketing energy bills piling financial strain on struggling companies.
As well as retailers shutting up shops, food and drink chains have taken a hammering too, with Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s announcing closures.
With shoppers being hit by ballooning costs, many are now spending less money on non-essential items to drive down their weekly bills.
The increasing popularity of online shopping and deliveries has also seen footfall in British high streets plummet, piling even more pressure on retailers.
After falling into administration last year, M&Co announced it would axe all 170 of its shops.
The bust business was put up for sale by administrators Teneo, A spokesman from Teneo, previously confirmed the sale of M&Co brand and intellectual property to Yours Clothing but not the stores.
The Peterborough-based group is also the owner of the menswear line BadRhino, the womenswear retailer Long Tall Sally and the maternity brand Bump It Up Maternity.
The M&Co store in Egham (left) is among those closing up for good on April 15. It will be joined by the Sleaford branch (right)
M&Co in Peterhead, Scotland, will also be closing up its site for good from tomorrow
The company previously known as Mackay’s fell in to administration on December 9, for the second time in just two years.
READ MORE: Major high street retailer reveals where shops will be closing within days as all 170 UK stores are set to disappear
Teneo blames M&Co’s collapse on the sharp rise in costs while squeezed household budgets have also cut down sale numbers.
At the time of M&Co’s administration, online clothes are being discounted at 50 per cent off, while in shops items have 25 per cent off promotions.
Industry experts also said at the time that M&Co had not attracted high street players such as Frasers, Next and Marks & Spencer who have recently swooped on bust retailers.
Meanwhile, M&S has already closed multiple branches, including shops in London and Edinburgh.
It comes as the company said it plans on closing 67 stores over the next five years.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom as the firm also plans to open 104 new ‘bigger and fresher’ food stores.
This will include 20 shops across the UK this year, including in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester.
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