M&S Food Hall at The Elephant, Elephant & Castle 2026

Key Points

• Marks & Spencer (M&S) has confirmed a brand-new 8,600-square-foot market-style food hall at The Elephant, Elephant and Castle’s £500 million town centre development.
• The store will offer fresh produce, everyday essentials, on-the-go breakfast, lunch and dinner options, and a click-and-collect point for fashion, home and beauty orders.
• The Elephant is part of the wider £1.5 billion regeneration of Elephant and Castle; fresh plans for the final phase, including 959 homes and student rooms on the West Site, have been approved by Southwark Council.
• The Elephant will include 485 new rental homes (172 affordable), 135,000 sq ft of shops, dining, wellness and leisure spaces, 55,000 sq ft of workspace, and retail units at discount rates for local traders.
• Other confirmed retailers: Blank Street Coffee (summer 2026 preview), Jungle Berry café (sustainable wellness menu), DistriAndina Latin food market (relocating from local arches), and a new five-screen cinema.
• Expected to launch late 2026, with construction starting soon; projected 16 million annual footfall and over £200 million yearly spend, ranking in top 4% of London retail destinations per CACI.
• Final West Site phase approved 23 March 2026: 507 build-to-rent homes (165 affordable/social rent), 452 student beds, 20,000 sq ft cultural venue; construction from 2028 post-university relocation.
• Statements from Will Smith (M&S Property Director), Aidan Malia (Senior Director, The Elephant), Rick de Blaby (Get Living CEO).

Elephant and Castle (South London News) April 1, 2026 – Marks and Spencer has confirmed it will open a brand-new food hall at Elephant and Castle’s £500 million town centre, The Elephant, as fresh plans for the final phase of the wider £1.5 billion regeneration have been approved by Southwark Council.

The 8,600-square-foot market-style food store, one of the first brands announced for the development led by rental operator Get Living, will provide fresh produce, everyday essentials and on-the-go meal options alongside a click-and-collect service. Set to launch in late 2026, it anchors a vibrant mix of around 40 shopping, dining, wellness and leisure experiences in Zone 1’s largest new retail-led town centre in recent years. This announcement signals strong retail confidence in South London amid ongoing regeneration efforts.

What Is The Elephant Town Centre Project?

The Elephant represents the second phase of Elephant and Castle’s transformation, built on the site of the former shopping centre demolished in 2020.

It will deliver 485 rental homes, including 172 affordable units, alongside 135,000 square feet of commercial space for shops, restaurants, leisure and wellness, plus 55,000 square feet of workspace. Local traders will benefit from retail units at below-market rents to foster community integration.

As reported by Retail Gazette, The Elephant is forecast by consultants CACI to attract 16 million annual visitors and generate over £200 million in spending, placing it in London’s top 4% of retail destinations.

The project also features a new University of the Arts London (UAL) campus for London College of Communication, opening next year for 5,500 students and staff.

What Has M&S Confirmed About Its New Store?

Marks & Spencer will open an 8,600 sq ft food-focused outlet specialising in market-style fresh produce, daily essentials, breakfast, lunch, dinner grab-and-go items, and a dedicated click-and-collect hub for non-food online orders. As stated by Will Smith, Property Director at M&S, to the Evening Standard:

“Our new store will bring the best of M&S Food to residents and commuters in Elephant & Castle. We have an exciting pipeline of new stores across the capital and we’re looking for sites where we can deliver the best products and the best possible shopping experience for our customers – we have the opportunity to do just that at The Elephant. Work will start in the coming months and we will keep the community updated on opening date.”

The retailer is among the inaugural brands confirmed by Get Living, underscoring M&S’s expansion plans with seven new UK sites in 2026, including food halls and full-line stores. Construction is slated to begin soon, aligning with the late 2026 opening.

Why Did M&S Choose Elephant and Castle?

Will Smith echoed to Express.co.uk:

“Our new store will deliver the finest M&S Food to both residents and commuters in Elephant & Castle. We have an exciting array of new locations planned throughout the capital, and we are on the lookout for venues where we can offer top-quality products and an exceptional shopping experience for our customers – The Elephant provides us with that opportunity.”

The site’s prime location in a regenerating Zone 1 hub supports M&S’s strategy for accessible, high-quality retail.

Which Other Retailers Are Joining M&S at The Elephant?

Get Living has unveiled a curated mix blending national chains with independents. Blank Street Coffee, the Brooklyn-origin chain, will preview in summer 2026 before the full launch. Jungle Berry café will serve a “sustainable, wellness-led menu” focused on healthy eating.

DistriAndina, a Latin food market currently in local railway arches, will relocate to the site. A new five-screen cinema completes the leisure offering, enhancing the 40-unit lineup. As per Retail Gazette, these brands aim to serve Elephant and Castle’s multicultural community while drawing visitors.

What Progress Has the Wider Regeneration Made?

The £1.5 billion Elephant and Castle scheme began with Elephant Central in 2017, now over 95% occupied with 374 rental homes, 278 student rooms, a supermarket, gym and nursery. The Elephant follows, with homes launching summer 2026 and retail/leisure late that year.

Details on the Final Phase Approval?

Southwark Council approved the £400 million West Site on 23 March 2026, clearing 959 homes and student accommodation on the former London College of Communication plot post-relocation. It includes 507 build-to-rent homes (165 affordable/social rent), 452 student beds, and a 20,000 sq ft cultural venue from retained college buildings. Updates incorporate a second staircase for Building Safety Act compliance and an all-electric low-carbon system. Construction targets 2028.

Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive at Get Living, called it “the final piece of the jigsaw” for a project delivering homes, student space and culture amid declining local housing completions, as reported by Construction Enquirer.

What Do Key Figures Say About the Development?

Aidan Malia, Senior Director at The Elephant, told Retail Gazette:

“The Elephant’s debut line-up of retailers marks a major milestone for Elephant & Castle. It is a huge boost for the local community and a definitive vote of confidence in south London’s retail & leisure future and our vision for The Elephant. As we set a new benchmark for town centre regeneration, our ambition is to shape a destination where global brands sit alongside evolving and independent retailers, offering something for everyone, serving Elephant & Castle’s beautifully multicultural local community while presenting an experimental mix that drives new visitors to the area.”

He added to the Evening Standard:

“The inaugural lineup of retailers at The Elephant represents a significant achievement for Elephant & Castle. It provides a substantial uplift for the local community and signals strong confidence in the future of retail and leisure in South London, as well as our vision for The Elephant.”

When Will The Elephant Open and What’s Next?

Homes at The Elephant are due summer 2026, with retail and leisure following late that year. M&S construction starts imminently, with community updates promised. The West Site follows in 2028, completing the regeneration.

This project revitalises a key South London area, blending housing, education, culture and retail. Get Living’s efforts, backed by council approvals, position Elephant and Castle for economic growth. Local residents anticipate enhanced amenities, while retailers eye the footfall potential.