Marks & Spencer has confirmed it will close its town-centre store in Alton, Hampshire, after more than 20 years. The M&S Simply Food branch will shut next January when its current lease expires.
The retailer has not confirmed an exact closure date. Regional manager Simon Cherry said the company would continue serving customers in the area through its nearby stores.
Reaction from local leaders
The announcement has caused dismay among local residents, with some saying they were “gutted” by the news. East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds said he had contacted M&S to request a meeting to understand the reasons behind the decision. He described the closure as “very sad news for the town”.
He said: “M&S has played an important role as an anchor store at the end of Alton High Street, so its closure will be a real blow to the town centre.”
Mr Hinds also confirmed he was speaking to East Hampshire District Council about how the empty premises could be used in the future. Councillor Emily Young said she was “deeply shocked” and “saddened” to hear of the closure, and expressed concern for staff affected by the decision.
Impact on the high street
She said M&S had been a “staple of Alton High Street for many years”, adding that it was one of the town’s dwindling number of mainstream clothing retailers, as well as a popular food shop. Its Click & Collect service was also widely used, she said.
Mr Cherry confirmed the closure in a statement, thanking customers and staff for their support over the years. He said: "Our Alton Simply Food store will close next January, in line with the end of our lease."
"I’d like to say a massive thank you to our customers who have shopped with us over the years and to our amazing store team." He said M&S was reshaping its food business to focus on stores offering its full range of products.
“As we reshape for growth, we want each of our food stores to deliver the very best of M&S, offering the full M&S Food range and helping local customers get their weekly shop,” he added.
Alternative shopping options
Customers will still be able to shop at nearby M&S branches in Petersfield, Farnham and Basingstoke. The closure comes amid further changes to Alton’s high street, with a TG Jones stationery store and the town’s Post Office also facing closure, according to reports.
