What we noticed on opening day
A giant Percy Pig, sporting a Santa hat, kept shoppers entertained on opening day(Image: Submitted )
The dust has settled after the grand opening of Marks and Spencer’s new flagship store in Cabot Circus. Shopping chiefs and politicians have hailed the arrival of the new shop as a potentially transformative moment for the centre of Bristol.
While it’s certainly too early to tell if the opening of one store will have the knock-on effect of improving other, more dated, parts of the city’s shopping area, M&S Cabot Circus certainly has a lot to offer shoppers. Here are five things we noticed on opening day.
The excitement of people going into the shop for the first time
Hundreds of people queued up ahead of the shop’s grand opening on Thursday morning(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
On opening day, hundreds of people queued up to get into the shop. Many people Bristol Live spoke to told us how much they had missed the presence of an M&S in the city centre since the closure of the Horsefair branch in early 2022. This was particularly true of older shoppers, and the delighted looks plastered on the faces of people as they went into the new store for the first time were heart-warming to see.
Indulgent items at the Food Hall
The Food Hall is the highlight of any M&S, and no expense has been spared at Cabot Circus. Cuisines from all corners of the world are available. Entire sections are dedicated to items such as steak, cheese and dried nuts. The bakery at the back of the hall looks like something out of Homer Simpson’s wildest dreams, with donuts and pastries galore. A dangerous place to spend much time, for your waistline or your wallet.
Sushi! Hot chicken!
Can’t be bothered to cook your own meal with ingredients from the food hall? No problem. As well as the massive food-to-go section you’d expect from an M&S, Cabot Circus has stalls dedicated to selling fresh sushi and hot chicken. The chicken flew off the shelves on opening day, quickly selling out.
The sushi bar was very popular on opening dayBeauty
Cabot Circus has the largest beauty section of any M&S, coming in at just under 3,000 square feet. The array of products on offer is mind-boggling, as is the fact you can get your face scanned to advise you on the best treatments for your skin. Admittedly, just another way to get you to spend your money, but a pretty fun hi-tech one at that. Just don’t be offended when the computer tells you your skin has “signs of lines and wrinkles”.
Be Careful!
Can you resist adding a couple of Colin or Percy items to your trolley?
There is so much on offer it will be very easy to part with far more money than you intend to when you visit the new M&S. In the food hall in particular, everything is laid out to look as tempting as possible, and you have to have an iron will to be able to resist adding a couple of extra treats to your trolley. Prices are what you would expect from a premium brand. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.