Marks and Spencer is set to open a new store in the south west of England six months earlier than it originally planned. Shoppers will soon be welcomed to a new superstore at Weymouth Gateway Retail Park in Dorset on July 15.

M&S is known for its quality food, homeware and clothing, with more than 1,000 stores across the UK. The new shop will be home to a food hall and cafe as well as housing clothing, home and beauty items.

It will also feature the chain’s in-store bakery which sells a range of pastries, cakes, cookies, breads and doughnuts.

Charles Pinner, the regional manager at M&S, said: “We are excited to reveal that our brand-new Weymouth Gateway full-line store will open this summer.

“We expect the opening to create 50 new local jobs and are looking for colleagues who are passionate about serving customers and raising the bar in retail to join the team.”

Around 60 staff members who already work for a nearby M&S will be offered a role at the shop.

In 2024, the planning application was approved by Dorset Council, reports The Sun.

M&S are running a multi-million pound relocation project with investments into its supermarket stores. The new store will replace the St Mary Street branch.

M&S first started in 1884, when Michael Marks came to the north of England and managed to secure a stall at Kirkgate Market in Leeds.

He built his success using the slogan “Don’t ask the price, it’s a Penny”. The stall, which sold simple homewares, was soon thriving.

To support his growing business, Michael joined forces with Tom Spencer, a cashier from wholesalers Dewhirst.

From this partnership, the business began to take shape and eventually turned into the M&S we know today.