{"id":535760,"date":"2026-04-17T10:05:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T10:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/535760\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T10:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T10:05:13","slug":"ms-cafe-at-middlebrook-set-to-permanently-close","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/535760\/","title":{"rendered":"M&S caf\u00e9 at Middlebrook set to permanently close"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n The caf\u00e9, inside the retailer\u2019s store at Middlebrook Retail Park,<\/a> will shut its doors for the final time on Sunday, April 19, as part of plans to expand and redevelop the site.\n<\/p>\n

\n The closure will also mark the end of the last M&S caf\u00e9 in the Bolton borough, following the earlier closure of the retailer\u2019s store and as a result its caf\u00e9 at Deansgate<\/a> in April 2023.\n<\/p>\n

\n While Marks & Spencer’s says the investment will bring an expected 108 jobs and improvements, many regulars say the loss of the caf\u00e9 will be deeply felt particularly among older customers.\n<\/p>\n

\n And some were shocked to hear it was closing.\n<\/p>\n

\n Margaret Wilson, 82, from Horwich, said the caf\u00e9 had become a key part of her weekly routine.\n<\/p>\n

\n She said: \u201cI come every Friday without fail.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cI do my shopping, then I sit down for a cup of tea and a slice of cake.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt might sound small, but it means a lot. It\u2019s something to look forward to. I don\u2019t know where I\u2019ll go now.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n David Turner, 67, who visits the store with his wife, said the caf\u00e9 offered more than just food and drink.\n<\/p>\n

\n He said: \u201cIt\u2019s one of the few places around here where you can sit comfortably without feeling rushed.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cYou see some familiar faces, you have a chat, it\u2019s a real community spot.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Losing it feels like losing a little hub.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n Emma Clarke, 41, from Bolton, said the caf\u00e9 was especially valuable for families.\n<\/p>\n

\n She said: \u201cWhen you\u2019ve been walking around shopping with kids, it\u2019s somewhere to stop and reset.”\n<\/p>\n

\n Another customer, who asked not to be named, said the closure felt like a step backwards for the area.\n<\/p>\n

\n They said: \u201cIt\u2019s very sad, heart-breaking.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cThere\u2019s nowhere else nearby that offers the same kind of atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cI feel for the older people especially, this isn\u2019t just about coffee, it\u2019s about having somewhere to go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n The closure will mean no more M&S cafes in the Bolton borough (Image: NQ)\n<\/p>\n

\n Marks & Spencer said the closure forms part of a \u00a350m investment across the North West and a wider transformation of the store.\n<\/p>\n

\n A spokesperson said: \u201cAs part of our \u00a350m investment across the North West, we are expanding and transforming our Bolton Middlebrook store.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Work is now underway and, as part of this, the caf\u00e9 will be closing on Sunday, April 19.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n The redevelopment will see the store extend into a neighbouring vacant unit previously occupied by Boots.\n<\/p>\n

\n Customers wishing to visit an Marks and Spencer caf\u00e9 are being directed to nearby stores in Walkden, the Trafford Centre, Manchester and Preston.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The caf\u00e9, inside the retailer\u2019s store at Middlebrook Retail Park, will shut its doors for the final time…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":535761,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[84,59,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-535760","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-gb","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=535760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/535761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=535760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=535760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=535760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}