Marks and Spencer confirms with Swindon shop closure

Consultations had been taking place after the department store brand announced in August it was planning to close the store.

But as of Wednesday, a large sign has appeared on the front of the Regent Street store confirming the news and that its last day open will be on October 28.

The cafe and Bureau de Change will be closing on Saturday (October 14).

Reacting on X, Cllr Jim Robbins said: "Really disappointing to hear that Marks & Spencer will be going ahead with their Swindon Town Centre store closure at the end of the month.

The Regent Street branch of M&S will be closing on October 28 (Image: Newsquest)

"We are determined to get Swindon town centre into a place where Marks and Spencer want to return."

Customers were not happy to hear of the latest departure from Swindon's retail hub.

Angela Atkinson said: "I'm gutted, I love this store."

Neil Robinson added: "Really disappointing that Marks and Spencer haven't listened the community and prevented the closure happening.

"This means I won't be shopping at M&S as much, and I spend a lot there."

Also taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one user Beckster said: "I feel sorry for vulnerable people, and town centre dwellers (me), younger kids and OAPs. 

"How do they get to the shops? Tesco now has a monopoly, and only Iceland for food, but lots of other people buy clothes [at M&S]."

Fellow commenter Leefer said: "It needs changing into a centre where there [are] no big shops.

"Cafes, and maybe something similar to Old Town, make the centre based on culture and entertainment.

"In 10 year's time, most folk will be shopping online anyway."

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In August, the retail chain announced that it had started a consultation on its proposal to close the two-floor Regent Street store as part of what bosses described as a Store Estate Transformation.

It seems that this consultation has now been completed, but it is not yet clear how many staff will be made redundant as a result of the store's closure.

Marks and Spencer has been approached for comment about the situation.

The Adver spoke to shoppers in September who were angry about the possibility of the popular shop closing and worried about the future of the area as there was little reason for them to keep visiting the town's High Street.

Since then, Wilko's large shop on The Parade has closed its doors for the final time.

Other M&S branches within Swindon include a clothes-focused store at the Designer Outlet and a Foodhall in Mannington Retail Park.

Its large shop in the Swindon Orbital is expected to be expanded in the near future as the company is working with British Land to invest money into the site.