Final day for Marks and Spencer in Sunderland city centre as store closes doors in emotional moment

The final shoppers are visiting Marks and Spencer in Sunderland city centre today as workers put in their last shift at the high street store.

M&S announced in January that the store would close, with a new expanded branch instead opening at The Galleries Retail Park in Washington.

The company confirmed earlier this month that the city centre branch would close on May 25, with the new store opening on Thursday, May 30 at 9am.

There have been calls for M&S to open a smaller, perhaps food-only branch in the city centre, but so far the company has simply said there were no plans.

There are also concerns for the future of the High Street West building, which is owned by Sunderland City Council - though M&S hold the lease until March 2027 and, the council has said, will remain wholly responsible for the building until then.

Councillor Paul Edgeworth, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Sunderland, issued a statement this morning raising concerns over the potential impact on the city centre.

"Today is a dark day for Sunderland with the loss of our last proper flagship store,” he said.

“We have seen from places like South Shields and Durham just how damaging losing M&S from the High Street can be.

“I fear Sunderland is now set to go the same way.”

He called on the council to give some assurances on the future of the site and apologise for ‘not doing more’ to keep M&S in the city centre.

The Labour-led authority has, however, previously defended its record in relation to the M&S closure.

Former council leader Graeme Miller stated earlier in 2024 how the local authority had worked with M&S to maintain a ‘strong presence’ in Sunderland, and supported the Washington expansion after the company ruled out remaining in the city centre, despite the council making the case for the branch to remain.

He said M&S and other retailers were closing stores in city and town centres around the country due to the economic climate and consumer habits, and stressed the council’s masterplan for the future of the city centre.

Marks and Spencer also issued a press release this morning counting down to the opening of the new 43,000sqft Galleries branch, highlighting its ‘stylish new clothing and beauty department’, which will include allowing payment in fitting rooms rather than queuing at the tills.

Other highlights, it said, include a ‘bigger-than-ever M&S Footwear offer with a spacious try-on area, making it easy for customers to find the right fit and style’.

 The store will be powered by 100% electric, no gas, and be fitted fully with LED lighting and screens as part of M&S’s Plan A roadmap to become a net zero business across all its operations and entire value chain by 2039/40 – ten years earlier than the Government’s UK-wide strategy.

 Store manager Rob Slone, who has worked at M&S for over 20 years, said: “The countdown is well and truly on to us opening the doors to our fantastic new store, The Galleries.

“Everyone has been working hard to make sure everything is ready for the grand opening on the 30th May.

“We can’t wait for customers to see all the amazing new features and enjoy the extended range of products we are able to offer.

“We really do encourage local shoppers to come down and try the store out for themselves – they won’t be disappointed.”