Marks & Spencer has launched a new city centre location in Edinburgh (Image: Getty)
A popular supermarket with more than 1,000 UK stores has opened a new high street branch in one of the country’s most beautiful cities. Marks & Spencer has launched a new city centre location on Lothian Road in Edinburgh. The store opened its doors to customers for the first time on Friday, May 1.
It replaces long-running bargain shop Ali’s Cave, a family-run business that had traded from the site for more than 40 years before closing in August 2025. The City of Edinburgh Council granted a provisional licence for the new M&S store in June 2025.
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The supermarket replaced a long-running bargain shop Ali’s Cave (Image: Google)
The M&S opened on May 1 (Image: Paul Motion/EdinburghLive/Reach PLC)
According to the retailer, the opening has created 22 jobs across customer service and operations roles.
The new supermarket features a small deli offering freshly made baked goods, alongside M&S’s food range and flower section.
There is also a dedicated Click & Collect point for online orders, including clothing, home and beauty items.
The store is operated by franchise partner HM Stanley. Ahead of the opening, Alistair Brannigan, store manager at M&S Lothian Road, said: “We’re so excited to open our newest store in the heart of Edinburgh, where customers can quickly and easily drop in and grab our delicious food products, whether they’re travelling to or from work, or spending the day at the shops.”
Shoppers can expect a freshly stocked in-store bakery, the brand’s popular ‘Food to Go’ range of salads and sandwiches, and deli favourites often referred to as M&S “picky bits”.
The branch will be open from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and from 8am to 10pm on Sundays.
While the new store adds another shopping option in the capital, Edinburgh offers far more than just high street names.
The Scottish city is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the contrast between its medieval Old Town and the elegant Georgian streets of the New Town.
The skyline is dominated by Edinburgh Castle, which sits on top of Castle Rock and can be seen from miles away.
It remains Scotland’s most visited paid attraction and is home to the Honours of Scotland, the UK’s oldest Crown Jewels.
Edinburgh is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world (Image: Getty)
Visitors can also climb Arthur’s Seat, an ancient extinct volcano in Holyrood Park that offers sweeping views across the city and out to sea. Calton Hill, at the east end of Princes Street, is another popular viewpoint.
Elsewhere, Victoria Street has colourful shopfronts and a curved design, which make it one of the most photographed streets in the city.
Anyone looking for some peace can head to Dean Village, which offers a riverside walk just a short distance from the busy centre.
The National Museum of Scotland, which is free to enter, houses a wide range of exhibits, including Dolly the Sheep and the Lewis Chessmen, and also offers rooftop views across the Old Town.