A FLAGSHIP Marks & Spencer has shut today in a move that has been heavily criticised by residents.

This historic site has been serving customers since 1957, and has become a key part of the local community.

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Swansea’s city centre M&S has officially shut today, and locals are gutted Credit: Alamy

The store has been serving customers for nearly 70-yearsCredit: Refer to Source

Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street in Swansea will serve customers for the last time today, after a 69-year history at the heart of the city’s retail scene.

The closure of the outlet follows long-term plans by the retailer to reduce the number of full-line stores in the UK.

Now, shoppers will have to drive over 15 minutes to visit the nearest store, based in Swansea’s Fforestfach Retail Park.

When the decision was made, Richard Owen, M&S regional manager, said: “The Swansea store has been a key part of the community for many decades.

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“Unfortunately, it is not viable to keep the store open as the building faces practical and operational issues requiring significant investment, the store has underperformed over a long period and we must prioritise long-term growth decisions.”

Regular visitors have shared their disappointment about the closure, with one calling it the “final nail in the coffin”, and others saying it was “the end of Swansea”.

Many shared their shock given the size and population of Swansea, with one saying: “No M&S in Wales’ second city…absolutely shocking.”

M&S has also announced that another Welsh location will close shortly after the Swansea branch.

Friars Walk Shopping Centre in Newport will be closing its M&S store at the end of June 2026, following the retailer’s decision not to renew its recently expired lease.

The Swansea outlet is considered to be a flagship in the Welsh city, but the current building and location was deemed unviable for M&S’s business mode.

90 historic locations have shut nationwide, with the closure in Swansea marking the loss of up to 92 jobs in the city.

With the closure of Swansea and Newport locations, the retail giant brings its store number in Wales down to just 20, despite an over 130-year history in the country.