Marks & Spencer eyes up Wolverhampton's former Banks's brewery site as possible location for brand new food store
Marks & Spencer is considering the former Banks's Brewery site in Wolverhampton as the location for a possible new store, the Express & Star understands.
The retail giant closed its store in Dudley Street on Saturday, after 96 years in the city.
But the company said it was still seeking to retain a presence in Wolverhampton, and was looking at sites for a possible food store.
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A source inside Wolverhampton Council said the company had settled on the former Banks's brewery site in Chapel Ash as its preferred location, although no deal has been agreed.
Banks's owner Britvic-Carlsberg brewed its final beer at the site last month, 150 years after the brewery opened.
It is understood that Marks & Spencer had initially looked at the former Homebase site at St John's retail park, but concluded that it would be too small for the company's needs.
The closure of the M&S city centre branch is part of a wider plan by the company to reduce its traditional department stores offering a complete range of clothing, food and home products from 247 stores to 180, with the closures focused on those that performed less well since the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, the chain plans to open 100 new food halls by April 2026.
The site at Chapel Ash would be on the city's ring road and also at a key entrance into the city. It sits on the edge of a residential area, but still within walking distance of the city centre. It is close to a large Sainsbury's store and is opposite the new Smithgate development, which will bring new homes and flats to the city.
The company did not reply to our questions about its interest in the brewery site, but sources say it is the focus of its attention.
The plot is a mixture of the brewery plant itself, storage, car parking and administrative offices. Production ceased there earlier this month, with operations moving to Britvic-Carlsberg’s base in Burton-upon-Trent.
On the closure of the Dudley Street store, Calum Telford, regional manager at Marks & Spencer, said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to all our customers who have shopped at M&S Wolverhampton over the years and to our colleagues, past and present. We remain committed to Wolverhampton and our search continues for a suitable alternative food location in the city. In the meantime, we will continue working hard to serve customers at our stores across the Black Country, including Merry Hill and our Wednesbury food hall."
Marks & Spencer has not confirmed how many staff at the city centre store are losing their jobs, but previously said they would be offered alternative roles with the company where possible.
