M&S Leeds Store Closure 2025: Reasons, Timeline & Impact

You might have noticed the M&S Foodhall on Wellington Street in Leeds has gone quiet. In late March 2025, the city‑centre branch closed its doors for good, leaving shelves elsewhere still feeling the aftermath of a cyber attack. Here’s what we know about the closure, the empty shelves, and what comes next for M&S in Yorkshire.

Closure date: 22 March 2025 •
Store location: Central Square / Wellington Street, Leeds •
Employees affected: Approximately 92 •
M&S cafes closing by 2026: 14 across the UK (2 in Yorkshire) •
Other Leeds stores remaining: White Rose Centre, station & Briggate •
Cause of empty shelves: Cyber attack on supply chain

Ten key facts at a glance show the scale of the changes hitting M&S in Leeds and beyond.

Why are shelves empty at M&S?

Cyber attack impact on supply chain

M&S confirmed that a cyber attack disrupted its supply chain, leaving some stores with noticeably empty shelves. The company stated it is working to restock as quickly as possible (BBC News (public broadcaster)).

Which stores were affected

• Empty shelves were reported in multiple locations, including Leeds city centre (The Hoot Leeds (local news)).
• Exact list of affected stores has not been fully published (BBC News).

How long empty shelves may last

M&S has not given a precise recovery timeline, but industry watchers expect restocking to take several weeks (Insider Media (business news)).

The pattern: The cyber attack hit at the same time the Leeds city‑centre store was closing, compounding the impression of a retailer in retreat – but M&S’s own data show the disruption is operational, not strategic.

Why is M&S closing down stores?

Store closure strategy 2025

M&S has been reshaping its store estate for years. In 2022 it closed over 100 stores as part of a wider transformation plan (Marks & Spencer corporate newsroom (official updates)). The Leeds Central Square closure is part of this ongoing review.

Focus on food halls and combined stores

• The retailer is investing in larger food halls and combined clothing‑and‑food stores (Time Out (lifestyle guide)).
• The White Rose Centre in Leeds was refreshed, showing the city remains a priority (Time Out).

Cafe closures as part of review

M&S is closing 14 in‑store cafes by 2026, citing changing customer habits. Two of those cafes are in Yorkshire (Insider Media).

Why this matters: M&S is making a long‑term bet on fewer, better‑stocked stores. For Leeds shoppers, that means trading the convenience of a city‑centre food hall for a bigger out‑of‑town experience.

The implication: M&S is betting on car‑based shoppers over city‑centre footfall.

Which M&S cafes are closing in 2026?

List of UK cafe closures including Yorkshire

• 14 M&S cafes will close across the UK by 2026 (Insider Media).
• Two Yorkshire cafes are closing – exact locations have not been specified (Insider Media).

Reasons for cafe closures

M&S said customer habits have shifted away from in‑store dining. The company prefers to focus on its food‑to‑go offer and dedicated food halls (Marks & Spencer corporate newsroom).

Alternative cafe options for customers

Customers can still find M&S food at remaining stores with cafes, such as the White Rose centre, or use the grab‑and‑go counters in smaller food halls.

The trade‑off: Fewer places to sit and eat, but faster, cheaper options at the counter. For the commuter who just wants a sandwich, it’s a gain; for the family looking for a weekend cafe trip, it’s a loss.

Timeline: M&S Leeds closure and wider changes

• Early 2025: M&S suffers cyber attack affecting supply to some stores (BBC News).
• February 2025: M&S informs 92 staff about Leeds Central Square closure (Insider Media).
• 22 March 2025: Planned closure of Leeds Central Square Foodhall (The Hoot Leeds).
• 2026: Planned closure of 14 M&S cafes across UK (Insider Media).

Timeline signal: The cyber attack hit first, then the store closure announcement – the two events are separate but together they paint a picture of a retailer under operational and strategic pressure.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

The pattern: while many details are confirmed, key specifics remain unclear, highlighting the need for official clarity.

What people are saying

“M&S has confirmed the food hall at Central Square will close later this month, and we are working to retain as many colleagues as possible.”

M&S spokesperson, quoted by Insider Media (business news)

“Shoppers in Leeds reported half‑empty aisles as a cyber attack disrupted supply chains.”

BBC News (public broadcaster)

“The Wellington Street store shut its doors on Saturday, 22 March, leaving two remaining M&S stores in the city centre.”

The Gryphon (student news)

“M&S continues to open and refresh food halls elsewhere in Leeds, including the White Rose Centre, showing the city is not being fully withdrawn from.”

Time Out (lifestyle guide)

For the 92 staff at Central Square, the immediate future is uncertain – but M&S has pledged to redeploy as many as possible. The broader picture for Leeds shoppers is a retailer concentrating its resources on fewer, bigger locations, while dealing with the lingering effects of a cyber attack that reminded everyone how fragile just‑in‑time supply chains can be.

The Leeds Central Square Foodhall closure follows a similar pattern to the M&S store closure in Cwmbran, which ended nearly four decades of trading in September 2025.

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