M and S Set to Close in Portsmouth
In a move that many consider will mark the death knell for the city centre, Marks & Spencer have suggested their Commercial Road branch could be one of six closed across the UK. Commercial Road – which has been selling smalls at that location for over a century – could potentially join Slough, Warrington, Wokingham and two Simply Food stores. With branches now operating in Gunwharf and Havant, M&S chiefs feel the modern needs of their customers are being better served elsewhere – and their property portfolio wouldn’t be damaged by dropping the six outlets. Many critics of the Gunwharf Quays warned that such large investment in the waterfront development could only come at the detriment of the city centre…and it appears they were correct. M&S currently has 959 UK stores – 304 full-line stores, 615 food-only stores and 40 outlets.
