Marks & Spencer has confirmed it will close four of its supermarket cafes next month as it shifts its focus to food halls. The four closures will be taking place across Kent, with closing dates yet to be confirmed.

M&S says customers will be informed when the cafes will close over the next few weeks, and it is believed employees at the site will be transferred to the shop's food halls. The supermarket is planning to open 500 new M&S Food Halls across UK towns and cities over the coming years, offering shoppers fresh market-style food and a dedicated flower and wine shop.

Customer shared their disappointment online, with one writing on Facebook: "My God they have to be joking? These are always packed. Wonder what bright spark decided closing them was a good idea? Ridiculous."

Another commented: "It’s never about customers anymore, these cafes are great meeting places for communities especially older members of community who enjoy cafes for social life, awful."

Andrew Icke, regional manager, told KentOnline: "We know many of our Kent customers want to be able to shop a wider range of M&S Food.

"That's why after reviewing our Strood, Whitsable, Maybrook and Aylesford stores, we are re-purposing the cafe space in each new month to offer even more delicious products.

"We understand this will be disappointing news for some of our customers, however our teams will continue working hard to serve them in-store."

An M&S cafe near Sittingbourne also closed not too long ago, on January 24, and the former food spot is currently under construction for repurposing.

M&S closures are set to continue throughout the year, as part of the retailer's £300million investment and store rotation programme.

The list of M&S cafes closing next month is below.