We look ahead to a new era for the shopping centre as the anchor brand gets ready to open
An artist impression of what the new M&S store will look like in Cabot Circus(Image: M&S)
Shoppers in Bristol and the surrounding area are eagerly anticipating the opening of a brand new flagship M&S store at Cabot Circus this autumn. It’s been in the works since it was announced back in July 2024 and will mark the grand return of Marks and Spencer to Bristol city centre, after the Broadmead store closed in 2022 after 70 years of trading.
Most recently, BristolLive reported that the high street brand is expecting to have more than 100 roles available ahead of the store’s opening.
However, at time of writing, a definitive opening date has not yet been confirmed. BristolLive has approached both Marks and Spencer and Hammerson (the team behind Cabot Circus) for more information on this.
Here’s what else we know about the new M&S store, as well as how Cabot Circus is dawning in a new era. There have been several store closures at the shopping destination in recent months, but there have also been new openings and more yet to come in the near future…
What will the new M&S store include?
Back in April, it was reported that Marks and Spencer had submitted plans for external alterations to the former House of Fraser store in Cabot Circus. The high street retailer sought permission to display its branding on the three-storey anchor store and modify some entrances and fire exits.
The company is investing a whopping £21million to revamp the massive unit, which will reportedly house one of the largest M&S cafes in the country, as well as a grocery supermarket, and clothing, beauty and home goods sections.
Indeed, the new M&S is touted to be one of the largest in the country.
What about neighbouring M&S stores?
The chain continues to operate a main outlet at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, along with food stores elsewhere in and around Bristol at Imperial Park, Whiteladies Road, Avonmeads, Eastgate and Longwell Green.
The head of Hammerson, the owner of Cabot Circus, expressed that the new city centre department store will have a ‘positive impact’ on the shopping centre.
“We are delighted to continue expanding our partnership with M&S in Cabot Circus, having seen the positive impact of their presence across our other destinations,” said Hammerson chief executive Rita-Rose Gagné, back in July.
“M&S is a brand that resonates with our core catchment areas and this new store will support our strategy to create a leading destination, thriving at the heart of Bristol city centre.”
Cabot Circus in Bristol(Image: Bristol Live)Recent changes at Cabot Circus – what’s closed, what’s opened and what is still to come?
What’s closed?
Monki
Signs appeared on fashion store Monki back in August to announce it would be closing its doors for good the following month. Owned by H&M, the brand has been taken under the Weekday banner, which targets young consumers, and H&M said only a limited number of store would be replaced by Weekday outlets, with the rest shutting permanently.
The Bristol shop was Monki’s last surviving retail store in the UK, and so with its closure, it has now disappeared from UK high streets completely. It is still available online however.
Foyles
BristolLive reported back in early September that bookshop Foyles had closed and was now merging with Waterstones in The Galleries. The move to Waterstones will only be a temporary solution, due to the upcoming demolition of The Galleries shopping centre in Broadmead.
Apple Store
The Apple Store in central Bristol permanently closed down on August 9 ahead of a major redevelopment of the Quakers Friars area of Broadmead. Cabot Circus owners Hammerson are preparing to revamp the Quakers Friars area. As part of the redevelopment, the building which houses the former Apple Store is being transformed, with a large health centre one possible future use for the space.
Foyles bookshop at Bristol’s Cabot Circus has closed its doors for good
What’s recently opened?
Bunsik
Huge queues of people snaked around Cabot Circus on September 20, for the opening of Korean street food outlet Bunsik. The brand is behind the viral Korean corn dog – or K-dog – craze. The opening marks the eighth shop of Bunsik’s portfolio, however it is the brand’s first South West location.
Goose & Gander
Popular clothing brand Goose & Gander opened a shop at Cabot Circus back in August, following an announcement in June that it was planning the new store. The brand stocks a range of hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, fleeces, jackets, joggers, bottoms and accessories. It previously had a pop-up shop at The Mall Cribbs Causeway and its new store is situated next to Superdry at Cabot Circus.
Joe & the Juice
Popular coffee and juice bar, Joe & The Juice, opened its first South West store in Cabot Circus in August. The brand serves up fresh juices, coffee, and a variety of food options – including healthy food choices and sandwiches and has been known to partner with celebrities like Paris Hilton and Novak Djokovic for campaigns and product launches.
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What’s still to come?
Uniqlo
Uniqlo will open its first Bristol store at Cabot Circus in 2026, located at the former Topshop unit on Brigstowe Street. The two-storey, 14,638 sq ft store will be the brand’s first location in the South West of England and will feature Uniqlo’s LifeWear clothing for all genders and ages.
Odeon
An event at Showcase Cinema De Lux, Bristol, back in 2012(Image: Artur Lesniak/ Northcliffe Media)
The announcement of the M&S opening coincided with Cabot Circus revealing that a new cinema company would be taking over the former Showcase Cinema, another key venue within the city centre shopping complex.
The takeover by Odeon was originally announced for a 2025 opening. However, BristolLive reported at the start of August that the opening looked set to be delayed until early next year.
An announcement from Cabot Circus owner Hammerson regarding plans to build a huge 500-bed student accommodation tower on land in front of the centre’s car park appeared to suggest the cinema would not be welcoming filmgoers until early 2026.
The new Odeon will occupy a smaller site than the previous cinema, sharing the space formerly occupied by Showcase with a restaurant and another “leisure operator”, according to planning documents. The identities of the brands behind the new restaurant and leisure space are yet to be revealed.
Showcase’s Cinema de Lux was the biggest cinema in Bristol until it closed in November 2023. Showcase bosses attributed the closure to a breakdown in negotiations with Cabot Circus management over a new lease.
A year later, in November 2024, Odeon was confirmed to have taken over the space. Since the Cabot closure, Showcase has continued to operate a large cinema at Avonmeads in St Philips.
‘More than shopping’
Back in May 2024, Hammerson confirmed that it is moving Cabot Circus into a new phase as it targets ‘multi-use’ brands that can provide more than just a shopping experience. A spokesperson said at the time: “We are moving from a place where you only come to shop to a multi-use destination that offers entertainment, leisure, live music, art and social events.
“It’s now more of a day out or experience rather than just an afternoon shopping.” You can stay up to date with all the news on M&S and Cabot Circus here.