MARKS and Spencer will open its eagerly awaited Haslemere food hall and cafe on Thursday, March 31.

The new store on the site of the former Co-op at Lion Green, in Wey Hill, has created 50 jobs and will be managed by Abigail Pockett, who will also cut the ribbon at 10am.

The store’s opening times will be 8am-8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays.

“The team and I are really excited to unveil our wonderful new store to local customers,” she said.

“The M&S food hall will perfectly complement the existing shopping experience in Haslemere and we look forward to becoming involved in the local community and taking part in charity fundraising.

“I’m eager to hear what local residents and customers think of our new store.”

In addition to a cafe, the store will offer a ‘coffee to go’ hot drink and sandwich takeaway service. Customers can also take advantage of ‘shop your way’, and order from M&S.com in-store or online for free next day collection. They will also benefit from a free car park.

The arrival of M&S, however, hastens the closure – even if only temporarily – of Lion Green Post Office.

M&S will retain the branch in-store until May 18, when the franchise agreed with the Co-op formally expires. But it will not host the Wey Hill branch after that. A spokesman told The Herald: “We do not operate a post office service from any of our stores and have no plans to include one in Haslemere.”

The Post Office has advertised since the Co-op closed last year, for a new outlet in Wey Hill prepared to take the branch, but has had no takers prepared to take on the four staff members.

The Post Office has pledged to continue its search to find suitable alternative premises when it closes on May 18. The proposition going forward, could be more attractive to Wey Hill retailers. But it will be a blow for the four loyal staff members, who have kept the branch open amid cold and noisy building works for many months, because it will not be necessary to re-hire them.

Julia Marwood, Post Office regional network manager, said: “We are committed to maintaining a post office in Lion Green. The vacancy has been advertised since we received the Co-op’s resignation as post master, and our representatives have visited the area on several occasions to see whether there is a suitable alternative retailer who wants to take on a post office.

“Currently, there is no solution and we regret there will be a temporary closure of Lion Green Post Office from May. We are continuing to look at ways to restore a service to the area as quickly as possible.”