Marks & Spencer to open new flagships in Bath and Bristol

Marks & Spencer has today announced its plans to open a brand-new 83,000 sq ft flagship store in Bath and return to Bristol with the opening of a new flagship store in Cabot Circus.

In Bath, the retailer is investing £17 million to "guarantee a future for M&S in Bath". Colleagues at the current Stall Street store will have the opportunity to relocate to the new store, with the Stall Street store continuing trading until the new hub is ready to open.

M&S Bath

Bristol’s Cabot Circus store is backed by a £21 million investment. The opening is anticipated to create an estimated 150 new jobs. The new store complements M&S’ existing Bristol offering, including at Avonmeads, Eastgate, Imperial Park, Whiteladies Road and Cribbs Causeway.

Both new flagships will allow customers to shop both retailer’s extensive clothing and beauty ranges, as well as its food offering.

M&S Cabot Circus

M&S CEO, Stuart Machin, said: "We want to offer the best possible shopping experience for customers every single time they shop with us... Our store rotation strategy is all about making sure we can showcase the very best of M&S – and that touch of M&S magic – from stores which excite and inspire. We’ve seen great results so far where we have relocated stores, in city centres like Liverpool and Birmingham, helping us to attract new customers and giving us the confidence to go faster with the strategy."

Darren Richards, Head of Real Estate at British Land, added: "SouthGate’s prominent city centre location and strong national transport links create a compelling offer for our occupiers, and following this letting we are delighted that the scheme is now fully let. Marks and Spencer is a great retailer with whom we continue to work closely as they expand their offer across our retail portfolio. They will be a brilliant addition to the strong lineup at SouthGate."

M&S currently has over 45 stores across the South West. These new investments build on the c.£6 million invested in its South West stores over the past three years.

The move is part of the retailer’s plans to elevate its store portfolio, to deliver more "high quality, higher productivity" full-line stores that sell its clothing, home and food ranges, while also opening over 100 "bigger and better" food sites by FY27/28.

"Investment in store rotation and the end-to-end supply chain is beginning to pay off. New stores and renewals are performing ahead of forecast and attracting new customers," said Marks & Spencer's CEO, Stuart Machin, in the retailer's recent trading update.