Marks and Spencer Announces Putney Return
Expectations are that it will relaunch in former premises
Marks and Spencer's former location on Putney High Street. Picture: Google Streetview
April 18, 2025
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has announced that it intends to launch a food hall in Putney as part of a £90 million investment that will see five other new stores in London.
Reports in the industry press suggest that the expectation is that the retailer will reoccupy the premises it left in April 2018 at 59 Putney High Street which remain vacant. We have contacted the company to seek confirmation that this is the case.
Having trading from this address for 91 years, first opening in 1931, the company departed citing difficult trading conditions as part of a programme of closing around 100 stores nationally. However, it remained tied to its lease until 2028 and refused to allow the building to be sublet. The empty store was often seen as an indication of the decline of the High Street, contributing to the impression of a large proportion of vacant units.
The former store was a full line format selling clothing as well as food but all the new stores are going to be in the food hall format.
The investment programme announced by M&S also includes new food halls in Clapham, Covent Garden, Fulham Broadway, New Malden and Leytonstone as well as the refurbishment of further eleven stores across London including a full refresh of the Pantheon on Oxford Street. The company says this will lead to the creation of 450 jobs in the capital. The new store plans are subject to planning permission.
The format of the new store in Clapham South includes a revamped produce section with a wider selection of fresh fruits and vegetables and a larger bakery.
The retailer currently has over 100 stores in London and first opened in the capital in 1903 when it started trading in Brixton.
Sacha Berendji, Operations Director at M&S said, “London has always been a special place for M&S, growing from penny bazaars in the early 20th century into fresh Foodhalls like the one in Brixton we reopened last year. We serve thousands of customers in the capital across our full line offering in larger stores on Oxford Street, which are soon to be redeveloped, to food on the move in train stations and we are always looking at what we can do next. Our pipeline of stores demonstrates our continued investment in London, and we will continue to bring the very best of M&S to customers from Brixton to Barnet for years to come.”
All new store plans are subject to planning permission.
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