An iconic British supermarket chain with 247 stores across the UK has confirmed it will be closing one of its Glasgow locations as the lease comes to an end. The Marks and Spencer store on Great George Street, just off Byres Road in the city’s West End, is set to shut its doors for good on Saturday, October 25. A company spokesperson explained that the decision to close the store followed “careful consideration” with the aim of ensuring customers receive the “best possible shopping experience.”
They added that the store closure aligns with the end of the lease agreement and is part of a wider strategy to reshape the M&S store portfolio. One person reacted to the news by commenting on Facebook: “A shame as that shop was useful,” while another said on Reddit, “That’s such a shame, actually can’t believe it, it’s just had some money spent on it for a bit of a face lift and is always mobbed!”
A spokesperson from M&S said: “As we reshape for growth, we want every store we have to offer the best possible shopping experience for our customers.
“After careful consideration and in line with our lease ending, we will be closing our Byres Road store.
“Thank you to all of our customers who have shopped with us at the store.
“We will continue working hard to serve you over the next few months and beyond then, from our nearby Glasgow West End and Anniesland stores.”
Other changes are about to take place in the area, The GlasgowTimes reported. Glasgow University has submitted plans to convert a nearby car park at Lilybank Gardens into student accommodation, and the city council is set to upgrade pavements, crossings, and cycle paths along the street, with work expected to finish by August 2027.
M&S is undertaking a significant store rotation programme across the UK, aiming to optimise its portfolio from 247 full-line stores to 180 higher quality and more productive locations within the next three years.
The process will involve a mix of closures, relocations, and upgrades, while increasing the number of M&S Food stores from 316 to 420.
The company said this strategy will improve the shopping experience, create new jobs and support more sustainable operations.