Marks & Spencers may be closing in Wolverhampton.

Express & Star

We take to the streets to chat to people about the proposed closing of Wolverhampton's beloved Marks & Spencers (M&S).

Transcript

00:00So here at Barbara, Barbara you said you didn't realise that there was a potential to close?

00:04I didn't actually, I've never heard that there were actually going to close.

00:07So you remember it when it was open for some years?

00:10Well yes, I am in my seventies now and it's always been there.

00:14So what's your reaction then? Because at the moment I believe it's got a real potential to close.

00:20What's your general reaction to find that ends?

00:23Well I'm quite shocked actually, let's face it, in this town now there is not many decent shops left.

00:33You've got to say it, there isn't. And that's another one going so...

00:39And Marks & Spencers, I mean that's a real, that's like an identifiable name isn't it?

00:42Well it is, yeah.

00:43Why do you know a name?

00:44Yeah, so where are we actually going to, I mean specifically closed shops, there's not many closed shops in this town now.

00:52So that's another one going.

00:53I mean did you shop in there much? Did you go around there at all that much?

00:56Yeah, especially the food hall and that is more go-to.

01:02Well the council said that they hope there's a potential for a food hall.

01:06Probably no problem with the closure if it is closed.

01:08Yeah, but only hoping.

01:10Yeah, only hoping, that's probably the problem.

01:12Yeah.

01:13But we can hope, we can dream, can dream it's saved.

01:17Yeah, so as I say that's just another one going.

01:20How many more are actually going to go, it's dying.

01:24The actual town is dying.

01:26Everybody's shopping online and that's it.

01:30I'm afraid I'm too old to shop online.

01:34But I would thank you very much.

01:36We're with Mick, so Mick you said you had a potential closure last night.

01:40What was your initial reaction, what do you think?

01:42It's kind of a stalwart of Wolverhampton.

01:45Yeah.

01:46You know, it's, well we're regulars to it every week.

01:50And when you see the, the food hall's busy.

01:54But not the clothing, I don't understand why they're keeping the food hall.

01:58They said there's a real hope that they might be able to keep a food hall.

02:02If and when it does close, I mean like, would you think it's the same?

02:06Would you think it would be the same?

02:08The food hall, I think.

02:10The food's going to be the same.

02:12Yeah.

02:13In Wolverhampton, there aren't much competition for them, is there, for their price range of stuff.

02:18And their quality.

02:19Yeah.

02:20I mean they've got Tesco, which is obviously cheap and cheerful as such.

02:24Yeah.

02:25But yeah, it's, but where, where would they put it?

02:28That's the thing, yeah, could put it anywhere.

02:30It doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be city centre, does it?

02:32Yeah, if it's, yeah, it's Benton Bridge.

02:34Yeah.

02:35I mean it's a shame, isn't it?

02:36Because obviously M&S, world-renowned name, like it's a really renowned name.

02:39It's one of the most renowned names that we've got on the High Street in Wolverhampton currently.

02:42Is it one of the longest in Wolverhampton?

02:45It's gotta be.

02:47It's a shame, do you reckon it shows like a bit of a trend on the High Street?

02:50Of shutting down?

02:51Yeah.

02:52I hope not.

02:53But, you know, soon enough it'll just be food.

02:55Food, food, food.

02:57Which is okay, but it's not great.

03:00It's not, it's not going to, why would you come to town for something to eat?

03:04Yeah.

03:05It's a sad day.

03:06Sad day.

03:07We don't know when it's going to shut.

03:09That's perfect, thank you very much.

03:11So we're here with Tony in England.

03:13Obviously you've just come out of M&S.

03:14Yes.

03:15You've just come out of M&S.

03:16I mean, obviously you must have heard the news.

03:18Everybody's talking inside.

03:20Right, everybody's talking.

03:21And standing at where we cash out and people are so disappointed.

03:26Yeah.

03:27So what was your reaction when you first heard?

03:28A shock.

03:29Yesterday, I'd seen it on Google.

03:32I told you, didn't I?

03:36Yeah.

03:37And we said then that Warburton's finished now.

03:40Yeah, you reckon that's Warburton's finished.

03:42I mean, like you see, it's a gigantic name to lose from the High Street, isn't it?

03:46Yes.

03:47Yes.

03:48Definitely nationally renowned.

03:49So it's a bit of a shock that it's going.

03:50Yeah.

03:51It's a terrible name, isn't it?

03:52It is.

03:53Well, this week, at least, we're going to be doing a big shop.

03:55We're doing a great big shop, which we've done today.

03:57Yeah.

03:58They said that there's a potential.

03:59They said that there's a real big hope for bringing a food hall down.

04:04But we don't know if it's going to be the same location.

04:06Do you reckon it'll be the same if it's just a food hall?

04:09I shall use it.

04:10You'll use it still?

04:11Yeah, we'll definitely use it.

04:12But they'd like something more like Cannon's Gottenham.

04:15They've got a great big food hall over in Cannon's Gottenham.

04:19So I reckon what they should do is, like, you know, obviously, it's going to...

04:22It looks like they're going to close, you know.

04:24It's going to be closing, you know.

04:25You reckon they should do a big food hall, you know, keep them coming in?

04:29I think that's their biggest one round here, is the food.

04:32It's fully packed in there.

04:33I mean, I can see a bit of shame in the next episode.

04:35Like, it's packed, it's packed in there.

04:37A lot of M&S's, they aren't like that, are they?

04:39You know, they're quite, they're quite, they're quite empty.

04:41And people don't really start using them.

04:42I mean, it's Cannon's Gottenham.

04:44Cannon's Gottenham.

04:45Cannon's Gottenham.

04:46Cannon's Gottenham.

04:47Cannon's Gottenham.

04:48Cannon's Gottenham.

04:49Yeah, no.

04:50So, Shane.

04:51Shane, that's closing.

04:52Strong hopes for a food hall.

04:54Big food hall.

04:55It'll be nice.

04:56Unless I bring one up and it's back to the bridge.

04:59Yeah.

05:00And that's a lot of trouble.

05:01That's a lot of trouble, isn't it?

05:02I go to Stafford a lot.

05:03Yeah.

05:04And they've got a lot of retail parks at Stafford.

05:06Yeah.

05:07They're busy.

05:08And that's what we're paying for.

05:11Yeah.

05:12Some shops where we have classic clothes.

05:16Yeah.

05:17If that's anything.

05:19Well, that's lovely.

05:20Thank you very much.

05:22That's great.

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