MARKS and Spencer is set to close a town centre in a shock move after decades on the high street.
The posh shop, which has more than 405 stores across the UK, is to close its branch in King William Street, Blackburn to the surprise of shoppers.
An exact date for the closure, which first opened in the 1980s, is yet to be confirmed by M&S.
Customers have been left stunned by the decision, with many taking to social media to share their shock.
Commenting on Facebook, one shopper said: "The town will be on its knees if M&S disappears."
Another fumed: "Are you frigging joking? This is literally the only reason I go to Blackburn town centre this is a JOKE NOW!!!"
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A third wrote: "The death of Blackburn's high street. (It’s the only decent shop that is left)."
And a fourth added: "This better not happen! What about the people who find it hard getting out and about, doing their regular shopping there??
"This is a well loved store at the heart of the town centre that's easily accessible. Blackburn town centre wouldn't be the same."
But it's not all bad news for shoppers, as M&S is considering a move to Frontier Park on the outskirts of Blackburn.
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Ben Heaps, regional manager for M&S, said: “With the lease on our current Blackburn store expiring in the next few years, we have been looking for a new local location with the right space to offer shoppers the very best of M&S.
"In line with the proposed opening, our existing Blackburn store would close once the development is completed.
“As the new Foodhall would be more than double the size of our current food offer in Blackburn, there will be opportunities for all colleagues working in our current store to move to work in the new store or other stores in the local area."
M&S is expected to close dozens of stores over the next five year, with more set to happen in the coming months.
Earlier this year, M&S revealed that it will permanently shut ten of its stores and relocate more shops this year.
Its part of the retailer's plans to create more flagship M&S stores and foodhalls across the UK.
The full list of M&S closures that have taken place so far this year are:
- East Kilbride – February
- Fenchurch Street, London – March
- Meadowbank Retail Park in Edinburgh – April
- Castleford – April
- Bolton – April
- Cardiff – April
- Manchester – August
- Swindon – October
- Birmingham city centre – November
- Barnsley's town centre – to close on November 27
Cities like Leeds and Liverpool have already become home to new M&S stores.
Nine openings in November include six new stores plus three store renewals which total and £80million investment in bricks and mortar by the retailer.
New locations include:
- Birmingham – opened on November 7
- Uckfield – opened on November 8
- Lakeside – opened on November 15
- Earlsfield – opened on November 16
- Barnsley – opening on November 28
- Trafford Centre – opening on November 30
M&S will also open new or refurbished stores in five more locations in the coming months:
- Camberley – opened on November 20
- Handforth – opened on November 23
- Newcastle Foodhall – opening on November 29
- Wrexham – opening on December 1
- Manchester Trafford Centre – opening in Winter 2023
- Linlithgow – opening in January 2024
- Largs – opening in Spring 2024
- Dundee – opening in Spring 2024
M&S is moving from having 247 stores to 180 – but says that these remaining locations will be higher quality, higher productivity stores and stock a wider range including clothing, home and food.
It also plans to open over 100 bigger Foodhall sites by 2028.
M&S plans to operate 180 full-line and 400 food halls in the next five years.
The new openings will bring investment in new stores to £480million, M&S said in May.
It will also be investing in its digital offering, with the rollout of click-and-collect to 130 stores across the UK.
Meanwhile, M&S isn't the only retailer looking to expand.
Primark recently opened a new shop in Salisbury in September and completed a refurbishment on its store in Edinburgh's Princes Street.
Plus, bargain retailer Poundland has opened dozens of new sites.
M&S' Christmas advert has also arrived and it features well-known TV and movie stars.
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