Marks and Spencer has announced it will be investing almost half a BILLION into creating "bigger, better stores across the UK".
The Leeds-born supermarket chain announced earlier that the company will be creating a total of 3,400 new jobs across the country, there will be a total of twenty new stores opened, including a brand new spot in Leeds' own White Rose Shopping Centre.
White Rose will be one of eight full-line destination stores (the big ones) and is thought to be taking over the former Debenhams site inside the shopping centre and has spent the last week or so taking over its socials with photographs of the brand new store to give us a little sneak peek at what lies ahead...
Images: M&S - Leeds White Rose
The popular supermarket store has also announced that the first 200 people through the door will receive a golden ticket with prizes like Percy Pigs and exclusive money off vouchers to be won.
Set to open on Thursday 25 May 2023 - there's still over a month to go, but that doesn't mean M&S isn't getting people excited about the opening in the meantime.
You can keep up to date with the new M&S via Facebook here.
The investment in M&S hopes to see 180 stores and 420 food stores by the 2025/2026 financial year.
Plans also include upping the omni-channel shopping experience for those wanting a quick dash in and out by introducing a further 130 Digital Click & Collect option to 130 stores.
The full list of new stores, including foodhalls, relocations and 'renewals' includes:
Stevenage (opened 28th April 2022)
Colchester (opened 7th Sep 2022)
Chesterfield (opened 30th Nov 2022)
Purley Way (expected Summer 2023)
Leeds White Rose (expected Summer 2023)
Liverpool (expected Summer 2023)
Birmingham Bullring (Autumn 2023)
Lakeside Thurrock (Winter 2023)
Trafford Centre (Winter 2023)
Stockport (expected Summer 2023)
Barnsley (expected Autumn 2023)
Largs (expected Winter 2023)
Stuart Machin, Chief Executive of M&S commented: “Stores are a core part of M&S’s omni-channel future and serve as a competitive advantage for how customers want to shop today. Our store rotation programme is about making sure we have the right stores, in the right place, with the right space and we’re aiming to rotate from the 247 stores we have today to 180 higher quality, higher productivity full line stores that sell our full Clothing, Home and Food offer whilst also opening over 100 bigger, better food sites.
There will also be a number of new Food Halls. / Image: Marks and Spencer
"The out performance of our recently relocated and renewed stores, give us the confidence to go faster in our plan. Our investment in stores not only delivers a better experience for customers and colleagues, it boosts local communities with new job creation and will help us deliver a more sustainable estate in every sense.”
Leeds White Rose is expected to open in Summer 2023.
Feature Image- Marks and Spencer
News
A brand-new city-wide festival dedicated to independent coffee is launching in Leeds
Leeds is set to become one big fat coffee festival this September.
Born in Manchester, Slurpfest is a much-love celebration of coffee that is coming to the city for the first time ever.
Working alongside the Slurpfest founders, North Star Coffee Roasters and headline sponsors Oatly and Indie Coffee Guide are bringing the festival to Leeds on Saturday 26 September with over 30 venues already signed up to take part.
The festival is designed to showcase the incredible talent, creativity and community behind Leeds’ thriving independent coffee scene, bringing together independent cafés, coffeenprofessionals, roasters and coffee lovers for a weekend of tastings, workshops, events and experiences.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
“Leeds has an amazing independent coffee scene and we want to celebrate the people who make it so special,” said Holly Kragiopoulos. “Slurpfest is about bringing the whole coffee community together and turning the entire city into one big festival. Best of all, so many of the events are completely free, making it super accessible for everyone to get involved and try something new.”
Unlike a traditional festival held in one location, Slurpfest Leeds will take over the whole city, with coffee shops and venues across Leeds hosting their own events throughout the weekend.
We're talking tastings, workshops, a city-wide coffee trail, an opening and closing party as well as a full day of coffee workshops, talks and experiences at North Star’s Coffee Hub at Leeds Dock.
“We’re super excited to see the city of Leeds take on Slurp Fest and make it their own” said Nat, Slurpfest Co-Founder.
Tickets for individual events are expected to be released from August, with the full festival programme announced soon.
A massive food and drink festival is coming to Temple Newsam this weekend
Clementine Hall
We hope you're hungry Leeds, because a big festival dedicated to all things food is coming to Temple Newsam.
The Temple Newsam Food Festival is now in its second year after a resounding first edition, aiming to celebrate cultural diversity, independent businesses, and global cuisine.
It will take place this weekend on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August 2026, with the beautiful and historic Temple Newsam providing the perfectly picturesque location.
The festival will celebrate local talent, independent businesses, world cultures and international flavours.
The Street Food Arena will feature an array of global cuisines, cultural delicacies, and irresistible desserts whilst the event's bustling Artisan Markets will showcase a plethora of small businesses and local entrepreneurs offering freshly-baked goods, quality produce. hand-made crafts, unique experiences, vibrant art, and much more.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it doesn't stop there as festival-goers can enjoy a selection of independent bars serving cocktails, specialty spirits, fresh cider, wine and beer.
This year there will be a huge focus on live cookery demos, with ten demonstrations from a whole range of talented chefs including Leeds' own Josh Whitehead of Finer Pleasures, Bobby Geetha of Kerala Canteen and stars from Masterchef and The Great British Bake Off.
And it's not just about food and drink, as new for this year there will be a dog show, plenty of live music and lots of fun activities such as inflatable jousting and target paintball.
Tickets are on sale now, and you can grab yours here.
Sophie Smith -
17th April 2023 
