Music and song at opening of new M&S in Llandudno

This morning, M&S opened at Parc Llandudno retail park, taking on the unit formerly housing Debenhams.

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The ribbon was cut at 10am by Karen Jones, North Wales’ longest-serving employee, who has been with M&S for 51 years. 

Meanwhile, other attendees included Percy Pig, the town’s “Miss Alice”, Llandudno mayor, Cllr Harry Saville, and town crier, Billy Baxter, and many more.

In true Welsh style, and offering a message of support to the people of Ukraine, the Maelgwn Male Voice Choir and Ysgol San Sior choir performed harmonies as shoppers eagerly awaited to take a look inside the new store.

Maelgwn Male Voice Choir.

First in the queue was Carol Thorne, who arrived shortly after 7am.

She bought roses to place on her late husband Andrew's grave.

Carol Thorne at M&S, Llandudno.

Carol added her admiration for the staff at M&S, many of whom she said she is on "first-name terms" with having been a regular shopper at the old store on Mostyn Street.

It was at the café there where Carol, a fundraiser for St David's Hospice, raised some of the money she has since donated to the charity, which now totals more than £23,000.

Carol said: "We were big Marks & Spencer shoppers all our lives. My sister and her husband both worked at M&S; it’s just quite a moving day today.

"They’ve worked so hard, the staff are second to none and always have been. A lot of them, I know by first-name terms."

Directly behind Carol in the queue was Joanne Hansom, who was planning to do some wedding shopping.

Joanne said: “I’m getting married in eight days, so I’ve come to get wedding stuff like earrings and shoes.

"I love M&S; I got vouchers for Christmas which my dad gave me to spend as well!"

The main key features from Llandudno’s newest store:

• A fresh, market-style “Foodhall”

• A 4ft cheese barge

• A “pick your own eggs” section

• “Scan and Shop”

• A 119-seat digital café, where customers can order from the new Grab and Go touch screens while enjoying barista-made drinks

• A spacious “Clothing and Home” department, offering womenswear favourites including Per Una and M&S’s activewear collection, Goodmove.

Inside the new store.

M&S, who say this is the first Welsh store of its kind, said: “Located in the much-loved Parc Llandudno Retail Park, the store is perfectly placed to welcome the whole family."