UK Store Closure: The historic 93-year-old Marks & Spencer store on St Mary Street in Weymouth, Dorset, will close permanently on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Operations will transition to a brand-new, 41,000 square-foot store located at the Weymouth Gateway Retail Park, which will open on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
The shift is part of the retailer’s broader strategy to rotate its footprint toward higher-productivity, larger-format locations. The new Gateway Retail Park branch is more than double the size of the town centre location and will feature an in-store bakery, expansive food hall, and expanded clothing, home, and beauty departments.
While the new location allows for additional job creation, the closure of the nearly century-old high street site has left many local shoppers upset over the loss of town-centre access.
UK Store Closure: M&S to Close 93-Year-Old Store
The high street doors will close permanently after completing its final day of trading. M&S is moving its operations to a brand-new, 41,000-square-foot retail park site. This new facility is more than double the size of the legacy St Mary Street branch.
The new store is scheduled to open its doors on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, significantly ahead of original corporate timelines that projected an opening closer to 2027.
All 60 staff members from the original high street location are transferring over, and additional new roles are being introduced across food, fashion, home, and beauty departments.
UK Store Closure: M&S New Store Features
The brand new superstore will open at the Weymouth Gateway Retail Park. The key features of the M&S upgraded single-floor store are:
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Fresh Market Food Hall: A massive space featuring daily produce displays sourced from M&S select farms.
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In-Store Bakery: A major focal point offering fresh, daily-baked breads and pastries.
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Full-Line Offerings: Large, dedicated departments for fashion, home, and beauty products.
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An M&S Cafe: A brand-new addition not available at the legacy town centre site.
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Infrastructure Upgrades: The site adds 234 dedicated parking spaces, 10 rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, covered cycle racks, and financial support toward Dorset Council’s regional e-bike hire scheme.
UK Store Closure: M&S Receives Backlash from Locals
While the new store offers a massive upgrade in terms of square footage and a modern shopping experience, residents have voiced significant frustration. Regular shoppers expressed deep sadness over losing a high street staple they have frequented for decades. Main concerns centre on accessibility, as elderly or less-mobile town-centre residents report needing to take multiple buses to reach the new out-of-town retail site.
The transition reflects Marks & Spencer’s ongoing corporate strategy to move away from older, cramped town centre properties in favour of spacious, accessible retail parks that can accommodate larger food halls and extensive clothing footprints.
UK Store Closure: Wider Retail Park Context
The multi-million-pound regeneration of the Weymouth Gateway site has already created 340 year-round jobs and utilized over 50 local contractors. In moving here, M&S joins an established hub of other national brands, including:
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B&M
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Dunelm
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Aldi (situated directly across the road)
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McDonald’s and Costa Coffee
UK Store Closure: Jobs and Economic Boost
While 60 current employees are successfully transferring from St Mary Street, the scale of the new building has allowed M&S to recruit heavily.Â
The expansion adds 45 entirely new permanent jobs to the area across retail floor sales, bakery staff, and warehouse operations. Local economic groups have welcomed the launch, noting that an anchor brand of this size will significantly boost Weymouth’s regional retail footprint.
