New Mark & ​​Spencer store is ‘strong vote of confidence’ for Bristol city centre

News that M&S ​​is opening a new flagship store inside Cabot Circus is a “strong vote of confidence” in the local city center economy – that’s the verdict of the man now in charge of the city.

M&S has today announced that it will take over the House of Fraser store in the heart of Cabot Circus, replacing the House of Fraser store.

Store bosses said the refurbishment and reopening would see £21m of investment and see M&S return to the town center for the first time since the department store closed in Broadmead in January 2022.

Read more: Marks & Spencer to open huge store in Cabot Circus in Bristol city center swap

Read more: River embankment ‘at risk of collapse’, council says

“We welcome the news that Marks & Spencer have decided to return to Bristol city center and I look forward to supporting their plans for a new store in Cabot Circus,” said Cllr Dyer (Green, Southville). “This decision to take on a larger and highly prominent site in the heart of our city’s retail center is a strong vote of confidence in our local economy.

“In recent years, the city center retail sector has had to adapt to meet various challenges, but we are now seeing clear progress in bringing the sector back to growth and strengthening the local offer. This is progress we want to build on and will continue to do so by working in partnership with local business leaders, community groups, our regional partners and others in the sector,” he added.

Bristol Live broke the news of M&S’s announcement earlier today and the move will also see the House of Fraser store close. Bristol Live has contacted House of Fraser to find out if their store is closing completely or moving to another location and is awaiting a response.

The opening means M&S will return to the city center after its Broadmead store closed in January 2022 after 70 years. The chain still has a main outlet at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, as well as grocery stores at Imperial Park, Whiteladies Road, Avonmeads, Eastgate and Longwell Green.

“It’s brilliant to announce our return to Bristol city center today,” said chief executive Stuart Machin. “At Cabot Circus, we are able to create a flagship store that offers customers the best possible shopping experience and showcases the best of M&S.

“Our store rotation program is about making sure we have the right stores in the right place with the right space to excite and inspire our customers, including in city centres. This £21 million investment will allow us to do just that, while expanding our footprint. over the southwest.”