High street giant Marks and Spencer (M&S) has named the stores being closed from April. The retailer has set out plans to shut 67 of its 'bigger' stores across the country.
The bigger stores affected mainly sell fashion and homeware products. But while 67 stores are shutting, its not all bad news.
Instead, M&S has set out to open 104 extra food halls over the coming years. Over the next five years, M&S wants to reduce its "full line" stores from 247 to 180, while increasing its food-only sites from 316 to 420.
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Many of the shops are expected to reopen in the same area or location as those earmarked for closure. Over the next five years, M&S wants to reduce its "full line" stores from 247 to 180, while increasing its food-only sites from 316 to 420.
Many of the shops are expected to reopen in the same area or location as those earmarked for closure. .Here are the stores set to close, subject to ongoing consultations, according to the Mirror:
East Kilbride Shopping Centre - CLOSED February 25
- Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough - April 15
Carlton Street, Castleford - end of April
Meadowbank retail park, Edinburgh - spring
Newport Road, Cardiff - spring
Eagles Meadow, Wrexham - autumn
Deansgate, Bolton - date to be confirmed
Shoppers affected by the Wrexham closure will see a new M&S shop open in the nearby Plas Coch Retail Park instead. The news comes after M&S confirmed a third pay rise for some 40,000 workers, increasing hourly pay to £10.90.
The new rate kicks in from April 1 - and comes just months after M&S increased hourly staff pay to a minimum of £10.20 back in October It means M&S will pay above the National Living Wage, which is rising to £10.42 an hour for those over the age of 23.
Employees in London stores will see their hourly wages upped from £11.25 to £12.05. M&S isn't the only retailer to confirm store closures this year.
Paperchase will be closing all of its remaining stores by next week after the stationery chain collapsed into administration. The retailer has put a message on its "store finder" website which says its last day of trading is April 3.
The full message reads: "All of our stores will be closed soon, our last day of trade is 3rd April."
Argos will close its Cardiff Bay store in July, with its Newport, Wales, branch also to shut forever in the summer. It comes as part of wider plans to move more standalone sites into Sainsbury's stores.
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