Signs appeared in the River Island store window at Friars Walk earlier this month announcing the outlet’s closure, with the shutters set to come down for the last time on Sunday the nineteenth of April.
Rumours had circulated for some while that the River Island branch at Friars Walk might shut its doors. Twelve months earlier, the parent company reported losses of more than thirty-three million pounds alongside a nineteen percent drop in sales.
The loss of River Island proved a disappointment for the city, yet what occurred subsequently surprised everyone.
On Tuesday the seventh of April, employees at the M&S Foodhall in Friars Walk learned that their branch would cease trading in June. The announcement caught staff off guard and delivered a significant impact, described as both genuinely saddening and unexpected.
In a written statement, Richard Owen, the regional manager for M&S, said consumer shopping habits are changing and the company continuously reviews its property holdings as part of a nationwide store rotation programme to ensure it maintains suitable branches in appropriate locations with sufficient space to offer an enhanced shopping experience.
Mr Owen further stated the decision had been made to close the Newport Gwent M&S branch at Friars Walk sometime toward the end of June 2026.
That phrase about maintaining suitable branches in appropriate locations raises questions about whether this politely implies Newport’s central area is unsuitable for an M&S Foodhall.
Nevertheless, M&S stores remain open on Queens Street in Cardiff, Bond Street in Bristol, Eastgate Street in Gloucester and the main High Street in Cheltenham.
During July of last year, Newport’s city centre also drew unfavourable press coverage. Research published by an organisation revealed Newport had the highest proportion of vacant commercial premises in the United Kingdom.
However, since July, the central area has shown modest signs of recovery with rising numbers of visitors.
One particularly encouraging success story is the Kingsway Shopping Centre. Following a change in ownership, it has experienced something of a renaissance.
At the Kingsway, empty unit rates fell from twelve percent to below one percent over the past year. The character of the Kingsway has shifted from a traditional shopping centre to something more akin to a diverse commercial environment. Launching a new weekend indoor market has proved a positive addition.
Regular events including Newport’s Music Trail Weekend, the Big Splash, Food Festival and Winter Wonderland are attracting people back to the city centre.
Not everything is bleak.
Nonetheless, the recent retail closures illustrate just how fragile the economic climate continues to be. Newport City Council must take action. Major investment in essential infrastructure improvements for the city centre is vital.
Michael Enea works as a Conservative blogger and campaigner.