Celebrating 100 years in Canterbury!

Marks and Spencers in St George’s Street Canterbury celebrated their 100th birthday today with customers and colleagues. The store opened on July 29th 1921 and has stood its ground through the many challenges Canterbury and the high street have faced.

Over the past 100 years, the store has faced the redundancies and closures of many shops along the high street and the effects of the pandemic. With the opening of Whitefriars in 2004, it became a part of an award-winning shopping centre which is the biggest in East Kent. As part of the expansion, M&S had an extension built which included a bridge that leads to the multi-storey car park.

One of the biggest moments in the store’s history was on June 1st in 1942. Canterbury witnessed the retaliation from Hilter and the German forces but as the German Luftwaffe tried to destroy Canterbury it could not stop M&S. The building had survived with minimal damage while the rest of the town had suffered destruction. The store reopened a few days after the attack and the clear-up operation began.


To help kick off the celebrations the store had two VIP guests at the ribbon-cutting The Lord Mayor of Canterbury and Percy Pig.


There were many activities throughout the day that included

-Buck fizz to the first 100 customers in-store today
-Percys mystery hunt
-Colouring competition
-Prize draw to win a £100 gift card (minimum of £50 to be entered)
-And a meet and greet with Percy himself


The store also showcased vintage outfits which ranged from the 1940s to 1990s with information on each piece. They talked about the pricing of each item which ranges from 7 coupons as clothing was rationed from 1942 where the 60s was selling clothes at 69s 11d (£3.50).


Marks and Spencers has been through a lot of changes in the past 100 years but within the city centre, all always had and will be a landmark.



*Celebrations will continue on Saturday 31st July

Top photo is courtesy of M&S Canterbury Facebook page. The others are taken by myself.