• All new 130-seater café delivering a new and fresh experience to the M&S brand
• New café operation with digital at the heart of the customer journey

As part of Marks and Spencer’s ambitious and far-reaching transformation programme to repurpose and redevelop their estate, the M&S team have developed a new and exciting café concept in partnership with Wates Group and ifse.

With an all-new 12,000 sq ft food hall this totally refurbished M&S store delivers a bigger, better, fresher shopping destination. At the heart of the new store features the 130-seater café in the Leamington Spa store.

The café operation has been re-designed with focus on a digital customer experience with on-screen and on-phone selection, improving the ordering process and increasing speed of service.

As a key part of the refreshed shopping experience, the new café servery reflects the modern M&S brand proposition with a contemporary slatted wood counter front and attractive Hi-Macs countertop, contrasted against racing green tiles to the rear of the servery and across the central coffee and preparation counter.

Diners will be tempted by the freshly prepared pastries, snacks, and bakery goods on display in a glass display in the centre of the counter.

After ordering at the digital screen, diners are invited to take a seat with a choice of comfortable banquette seating that lines the perimeter of the seating space or traditional dining tables and chairs. Mixing larger-capacity high tables into the layout means that there is suitable seating space for all dining groups.

For diners looking for a quick coffee and a snack; the high bar seating provides a comfortable space separated from the servery with crittall screens across the countertop.

Covering the entirety of the seating wall, a large decorative acoustic panel has been utilised to ensure the noise levels in the space remain comfortable for all. This panel also acts as an eye-catch feature in the space, with a large LED sign across the wall reading “Good Food Is Always On the Menu”.

The commercial kitchen space was designed with speed of service at its heart, with dedicated zones for the food offer. High-capacity Merrychef ovens provide the speed of service for finishing, sandwich or deli items whilst stacked CIBO ovens provide ample capacity for freshly prepared pizzas.

Anne Peacock, Director at ifse who spearheaded the project said:

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with M&S and the professional team at Wates Group to deliver the new café concept in Leamington Spa. The café represents the very best of M&S and we look forward to working with the team again in the future”

Caroline Cromar, Head of Hospitality at M&S said:

“The Café has been developed to create a warm and inviting space for our customers to relax as part of their shopping experience. The new operating model allows for a seamless ordering process and improved speed, whilst delivering exceptional M&S quality food and drink that our customers know and trust.”

M&S Press Release, Creating a store estate that’s fit for the future at Leamington Spa – LINK

WarwickshireWorld, Here’s when the new Marks and Spencer Foodhall at the Leamington Shopping Park will open  – LINK