Colchester High Street M&S still for sale, one year after shutting

The store had been a permanent fixture in the city centre for 90 years, and campaigners fought hard in a forlorn attempt to convince bosses to keep the shop open.

The battle to keep the historic store was fought on the premise that the retailer’s status brought increased footfall to the city centre which, in turn, allowed other businesses in the area to thrive.

Marks and Spencer was seen as the linchpin of Colchester’s city centre retail scene, similar to Debenhams before it went under in 2021.

But despite activists’ best efforts, retail bosses pushed ahead with the closure, and on September 6 2022, the store’s time was up.

Although residents and shoppers miss Marks and Spencer, executives seem less sentimental.

Disappointment – campaigners like Maarten Westera had fought hard to keep the store open, but to no avail (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

When approached by the Gazette about whether Marks and Spencer had any intention of returning to the city centre a spokesman for the retailer insisted the new Stane Park branch shop had been an undisputed success.

The implication was there were no plans to return to Colchester's city centre itself.

He said: “We have continued to receive great feedback from customers at our M&S Colchester store at Stane Park.

“The store has been even busier than we expected and colleagues are enjoying being able to offer local shoppers a wider range of M&S products than ever before.”

The spokesman added Marks and Spencer is “actively marketing” the High Street retail unit.

“We will keep the local community updated with any developments,” he said.

But ownership of the retail unit is not straightforward.

Acting quickly – signage was being removed from the front of the store within an hour of the store shutting for the final time (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Marks and Spencer owns the part of the store with the High Street frontage, but the part of the unit which backs onto Lion Walk is owned by the Lion Walk Shopping Precinct.

The shop has also been paying full business rates of £23,000 per month since December.

It means that although Marks and Spencer will be keen to move the store on, rather than haemorrhage cash on a monthly basis, it is likely to be a slow process.

In short, don’t expect anything to happen with the retail space any time soon.

Empty – after the store closed, workmen were busy removing branded Marks and Spencer stickers from the doors (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Campaigners like Maarten Westera, who set up the Keep Colchester High Street M&S Open petition, are keen to keep the pressure on.

He said: “Our campaign continues – not only because we want M&S to come back, but if people aren’t aware of the risks of losing what we’ve got in the city centre, then eventually we will lose more stores.

“We have to reverse the trend, stop blaming the council for everything, and get behind the city centre.

“We will be able to buck the trend that we see in many other areas of the UK.”

Mr Westera also took aim at Marks and Spencer directors who claim to have city centres’ interests at heart when making executive decisions.

Locked – The Culver Street shutters are closed for the final time (Image: N/A)

“What annoys me is that if you follow M&S directors on LinkedIn, they talk about how they support high streets and city centres, but their actions speak louder than words.

“They have a marketing message claiming they are all for the high street, but they’re clearly not – their actions prove the exact opposite.”

On the anniversary of the store closure on Wednesday, further action will be taken, Mr Westera said.

“We will be encouraging everyone to write to Marks and Spencer again and bombard them with letters from disgruntled customers who want an answer from them.

“We will be giving them a bit of grief.”

Colchester BID declined to comment.