4 hours ago, zz4096 said:

 

It means c--t struck. Thankfully I'm not married but if I did have a Thai wife and all she cooked me was Thai food then she wouldn't be my wife for very long. 

Nobody would marry you

6 hours ago, champers said:

their Jaffa Cakes were addictive and will be sorely missed by me.

 

You'll have to change to XL size in underwear next time you're shopping.

Where will I buy my underwear from?  Gutted.

15 hours ago, falangUK said:

Just walked into Marks & Spencer in Chiang Mai today (12 June) and got a proper shock. Half the shop is empty, and all the sweets from the food hall have been moved into the clothing section. When I asked what was going on, staff said they’re closing at the end of the month 😞.

 

The franchise is ending and no one’s taken it over. From what I understand, they’re shutting down all M&S stores in Thailand, not just Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

Honestly gutted. M&S was one of those rare places that felt a bit like home. Good quality, decent food, familiar stuff when you needed it most. We always used to shop there, and just knowing it was around gave a bit of comfort.

 

They used to sell M&S sweets like biscuits and chocolates at TOPS and another place I can’t remember now, so hopefully those products will still be around. Fingers crossed this doesn’t mean Marks & Spencer is disappearing entirely from the country.

Still, feels like the end of an era.

I guess you haven't been keeping up with the economic news on how badly thailand is currently. More to come before it gets better 

10 hours ago, connda said:

What's a Marks & Spencer?  

 

Oh my. The spirit of the Dowager Countess of Grantham lives.

 

 

16 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

It's a SHIRT. What do you think the thread is made from gold?

I'd bet you buy everything in 10 baht shop and Daiso.

10 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

I'd bet you buy everything in 10 baht shop and Daiso.

 

Look, I have more M & S shirts than anyone on this forum. And also the sartorial made to measure ones, with the best cotton. I still prefer the cotton shirts I got on Lazada. Those M & S shirts have frayed edges in the collar, not all that great quality. And the normal shirts are even worse quality than what you get on Lazada for one tenth of the price.

17 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Cobblers.   Lotus's (Tesco), Big C (Carefour), Family Mart are not going to the wall

 

Cobblers, Lotus's isn't owned by, or part of, Tesco and neither is Big C owned by, or part of, Carrefour

11 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Cobblers, Lotus's isn't owned by, or part of, Tesco and neither is Big C owned by, or part of, Carrefour

Correct.  Tesco sold up to the CP Group in 2020 and Carrefour sold Big C in 2010.

17 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Cobblers.   Lotus's (Tesco), Big C (Carefour), Family Mart are not going to the wall

They are not going they have gone already.

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

Look, I have more M & S shirts than anyone on this forum. And also the sartorial made to measure ones, with the best cotton. I still prefer the cotton shirts I got on Lazada. Those M & S shirts have frayed edges in the collar, not all that great quality. And the normal shirts are even worse quality than what you get on Lazada for one tenth of the price.

Thank you for this. Never bought any from M&S, this puts previous post in different light.

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

Thank you for this. Never bought any from M&S, this puts previous post in different light.

Except for the fact it's complete BS. I have a large number of M&S button down short sleeve cotton shirts. Excellent quality and last a very long time. 

 

Don't rate their boxer shorts now though. You pay £6 for a pair end end up with £5 worth rammed up your crack. 

4 hours ago, johng said:

21 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Cobblers.   Lotus's (Tesco), Big C (Carefour), Family Mart are not going to the wall

They are not going they have gone already.

Neither Lotus's, Big C not Family Mart are gone in terms of being out of business.

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Neither Lotus's, Big C not Family Mart are gone in terms of being out of business.

Tesco ,Carefour and Family Mart have all gone (from Thailand)

they are no more, they have shuffled off this mortal coil,have gone to meet their maker are not just pining for the fjords  they are dead.

On 6/12/2025 at 5:30 PM, falangUK said:

Just walked into Marks & Spencer in Chiang Mai today (12 June) and got a proper shock. Half the shop is empty, and all the sweets from the food hall have been moved into the clothing section. When I asked what was going on, staff said they’re closing at the end of the month 😞.

 

The franchise is ending and no one’s taken it over. From what I understand, they’re shutting down all M&S stores in Thailand, not just Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

Honestly gutted. M&S was one of those rare places that felt a bit like home. Good quality, decent food, familiar stuff when you needed it most. We always used to shop there, and just knowing it was around gave a bit of comfort.

 

They used to sell M&S sweets like biscuits and chocolates at TOPS and another place I can’t remember now, so hopefully those products will still be around. Fingers crossed this doesn’t mean Marks & Spencer is disappearing entirely from the country.

Still, feels like the end of an era.

I was in the location at CentralWorld last week. Seemed normal. But it wouldn't surprise me if M&S is pulling out of Thailand. Over the years they've stopped selling much of their food and only have sweets and biscuits now (like you noted). There was some cereal too that I saw. But everything is quite expensive and much of the food seems to be close to expiry. Some years ago, the owners, Central Pattana, or Central group, also imported some great frozen food from Sainsbury's - but I don't see much (if any) of it these days. Maybe the partnerships have reached their end. 

5 hours ago, johng said:

They are not going they have gone already.

Yes. It's only CP (Lotus's) and Central group (Big C, Tops) now - the European/British partners are all gone. Who owns Villa - is it Central Pattana now? Has Foodland ever expanded in the last decade? I don't think so..

15 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Yes. It's only CP (Lotus's)

CP all   includes 7-11   Macro  and True   omnicorp in the making. 

1 hour ago, ronnie50 said:

Central group (Big C, Tops) now - the European/British partners are all gone.

Now it's the other way around. Central Group is investing big outside of Thailand into retail, Selfridges Group anyone?

On 6/12/2025 at 12:59 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Ha!  Another jaffa cakes fan!  And here I thought I was the only one!

 

As an American, I had never even heard the term "jaffa cake" until I wandered into M&S CentralWorld that day some months back.....

 

Hmm jaffa cakes, I discovered them in my local Irish store.

 

I can, unfortunately devour an entire  packet in a single evening, one of my guilty pleasures

Confirmed. M&S in Thailand are closing as of December 2025.