Marks and Spencer issue statement on Brighton store's future

The future of the city centre store in Western Road has been thrown into doubt following recent reports that the company is closing 25 per cent of its larger stores.

As part of the retailer’s plans for the future, the number of clothes and homeware stores would be reduced down from 247 currently to around 180 shops by 2028. Closures will target “lower productivity” outlets, although the aim is for the store closures to ideally be completed in the next three years.

M&S will instead replace the stores by adding over 100 of its Simply Food outlets across the country. The brand will add the shops as it moves towards its grocery and food stores.

The company cited the need to deal with the “difficult economic backdrop” as the reason for the change in strategy, with many businesses facing troubles due to the cost of living crisis.

Marks and Spencer has also recently committed to a pay rise for over 40,000 staff members. The move, which affects staff on the lowest wages, will see some workers paid at least £10.20 an hour from October having previously been upped to £10 in April.

M&S is planning to close 25 per cent of its larger stores (Image: PA)

The package of changes will cost the business around £15million a year.

The Marks and Spencer store in Western Road has been open in Brighton for many years. The city also has a number Simply Food stores, including in Lewes Road and in Brighton train station.

As one of the brand’s larger outlets, the Western Road store is a part of the group of shops which may be set to close in the coming years.

In response to worries that the store could be under threat, a spokesman for Marks and Spencer said: “We haven’t made any new announcements about store closures.

The company added that shoppers “may have seen some reporting around our presentation to investors today” but that “the information that was reshared here about our stores is just about our existing long-term plan to rotate our store estate”.