As the festive season sweeps across Coventry and Peterborough, Marks and Spencer (M&S) finds itself at the heart of two very different holiday stories—one of community anticipation for Christmas shopping, and another of an audacious crime spree that’s landed a thief behind bars just in time for Christmas.
For shoppers in Coventry, the annual rush to stock up on holiday treats and last-minute gifts is well underway. M&S, a staple of the British high street, has published its Christmas and New Year opening hours for its Coventry locations, aiming to help residents plan their festive errands with minimal hassle. But while the tills are ringing in Coventry, a very different drama unfolded in Peterborough, where a determined thief targeted the same M&S store ten times in less than a month, making off with more than £1,400 worth of goods before being apprehended and sentenced to jail.
Let’s start with the good news for Coventry residents: all three local M&S branches have set out clear schedules to help customers navigate the busy holiday period. According to recent reports, all Marks and Spencer stores in Coventry will be closed on Christmas Day (December 25, 2025), Boxing Day (December 26, 2025), and New Year's Day (January 1, 2026). This closure aligns with the company’s longstanding tradition of giving staff time off to spend with their families during the holidays—a move that, though welcomed by employees, always leaves a few last-minute shoppers scrambling for alternatives.
For those who like to get their shopping done early, the M&S store at The Precinct in Coventry will open its doors from 07:00 to 19:00 on both December 22 and 23. On Christmas Eve, the store will close an hour earlier, with operating hours from 07:00 to 18:00. After the two-day Christmas closure, the store reopens on December 27 from 08:30 to 18:00 and maintains similar hours through to New Year’s Eve, when it will again close at 18:00. The store resumes normal hours on January 2, 2026, opening from 08:30 to 18:00.
The Coventry Arena Park branch offers even longer hours to accommodate the holiday rush. On December 22 and 23, it will stay open from 07:00 all the way until 22:00—perfect for those who need to squeeze in a late-night dash for mince pies or stocking fillers. Christmas Eve hours are slightly shorter, from 07:00 to 18:00. The store will be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day, but then opens again on December 27 from 08:30 to 19:00, and on December 28 from 11:00 to 17:00. On December 29 and 30, hours are 08:30 to 20:00, and New Year’s Eve sees the store open from 08:30 to 19:00. Like its sister store, Arena Park resumes its regular schedule on January 2, 2026, from 08:30 to 18:00.
M&S Simply Food in Binley rounds out the trio of Coventry locations, with slightly different hours to suit its neighborhood clientele. On December 22 and 23, the Binley store opens from 07:30 to 21:00. Christmas Eve sees an earlier closing time of 18:00. After the holiday break, the store is open from 08:00 to 20:00 on December 27, 10:30 to 16:30 on December 28, and 08:30 to 20:00 on December 29 and 30. New Year’s Eve hours are 08:30 to 19:00, and the store is back to business as usual on January 2, 2026, with hours from 08:30 to 20:00.
For many Coventry residents, these extended hours are a lifeline in the hectic days leading up to Christmas. Whether it’s a forgotten ingredient for Christmas dinner or an overlooked gift for a neighbor, the local M&S stores are doing their best to keep the festive spirit alive and well. The company’s decision to close on key holidays is a reminder of the importance of work-life balance, even during the busiest retail season of the year.
But while Coventry’s shoppers are planning their festive routines, the M&S team in Peterborough has been dealing with a very different set of challenges. Between November 16 and December 8, 2025, Reece Cruickshank, a 36-year-old man with no fixed address, embarked on a brazen spree of thefts at the Marks and Spencer store on Bretton Way. According to police and court reports, Cruickshank targeted the store ten times in less than a month, making off with meat, cheese, and alcohol worth more than £1,400. On November 17, he also stole dog food valued at £170 from the nearby Pets at Home store on the same street.
CCTV footage played a crucial role in bringing Cruickshank’s crime spree to an end. After being identified from the recordings, he was arrested and charged with eleven counts of theft from a shop. On December 13, 2025, he appeared before Huntingdon Magistrates' Court, where he admitted to the thefts and was sentenced to 20 weeks in jail.
PC Matthew Amos, who led the investigation, didn’t mince words about the impact of the crimes and the determination of law enforcement to protect local businesses. "Cruickshank was relentless in his determination to steal from this shop. His audacious behaviour caught up with him and I'm pleased he has now appeared in court. We will continue to work with retailers to bring people who steal from them to justice," PC Amos said on December 13, 2025.
For the staff at the Bretton Way M&S, the sentencing brings a measure of relief during what is already a stressful time of year. Shoplifting spikes during the holiday season, as increased foot traffic and crowded aisles make it easier for thieves to blend in. According to retailers, persistent offenders like Cruickshank can have a significant impact not just on profits, but also on staff morale and the sense of safety in the workplace.
The swift resolution of the case also highlights the crucial role of CCTV and the close cooperation between retailers and local police. As PC Amos noted, ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and businesses is essential to keeping shoplifters at bay and maintaining trust within the community.
As the countdown to Christmas continues, Coventry’s M&S stores are preparing to welcome a steady stream of customers, while in Peterborough, the local branch can breathe a little easier knowing one prolific thief will be spending the holiday season behind bars. The twin stories serve as a reminder of both the joys and challenges that come with the festive rush, and the importance of community—whether it’s shoppers supporting their favorite local store, or police and retailers working together to keep the shelves safe and full.
With clear opening hours and a renewed focus on security, Marks and Spencer is poised to help communities across the UK celebrate the holidays—one mince pie (and one safe store) at a time.