‘Sadness’ for Marks & Spencer’s last day of trading at The Broadway in Bradford

MARKS & Spencer has its last day of trading before closing its doors for good at The Broadway in Bradford.

The flagship retailer’s flagship store in the city’s shopping center is closing today (Saturday) and shoppers visited the store for the last time.

Marks & Spencer is closing its doors at The Broadway today (May 18) (Image: UGC)

The shelves in the food hall were almost empty and the upstairs cafe had a limited menu, but customers were out to see what Marks & Spencer had on offer for the last day.

A Bradford woman has spoken of her sadness that Marks & Spencer is closing in Broadway.

“It’s sad that it’s closing,” she said. “I shopped for food and occasionally shopped in other parts of the store.

“It was part of my daily routine. Now I probably won’t shop at the mall again.

“I will be sad to see it go. I live nearby and have always stopped there on my way home from work.”

There was very little left on the shelves of the Marks & Spencer Food Hall on the last day of trading (Image: UGC)

“I’m disappointed,” said another woman who did some shopping in the food hall on the last day. “There’s nothing left on the shelves.”

“We shopped for food there and they had some good deals on food in the food hall.

“They’re not as expensive as people think and they sell quality clothes.”

“It’s so sad to see it go,” said one Bradford man. “You can get some quality clothes and good food in the shop and in the food hall.

The cafe in Marks & Spencer on the last day of trading in The Broadway (Image: UGC)

“But I really enjoyed visiting the cafe. It was a great place to meet and have lunch or a coffee.”

M&S has been in The Broadway since it opened in 2015 and at this stage it is not known what will replace it.

The T&A contacted Marks & Spencer for comment on this the other day but has yet to hear back from the store.

Vickie Smith, Marks & Spencer regional manager, told the Telegraph & Argus in April: “We would like to thank all the customers who have shopped with us at our Bradford Broadway store.

“The store will close on May 18 and we are continuing discussions with colleagues about what this decision means for them.

“Where possible we will offer them alternative roles with M&S.

“Shopping habits are changing and so we are changing our store to ensure we have the right stores, in the right place and with the right space.

“Bradford remains a hugely important city for M&S and over the past 10 years we have invested over £120m in our Bradford distribution center which employs over 1,800 people.

“We have also invested £20m in recent years in our West Yorkshire stores.”

She said the company would continue to serve customers at Marks & Spencer branches at Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bingley, Ilkley – all Simply Food outlets – as well as Owlcotes in Pudsey and online.

Ian Ward, managing director at The Broadway, previously told the T&A: “M&S closing the store at The Broadway is a loss for both the city center and the wider Bradford borough and our thoughts are with everyone affected.”