Let’s be honest: the Croydon Purley Way store is a monster. It’s not a cosy little high-street M&S where you can grab a sandwich and a smile. No, this one feels like a logistical wonderland, or maybe a beige-coloured TARDIS.
You go in for a loaf of bread, and suddenly you are deep in the Home section, wondering if you need a new set of duck-egg-blue cushions. (You don’t. But you’ll buy them anyway, because M&S pillows smell like ‘responsible adulthood’.)
And the Food Hall? Have you ever navigated the Cooler Aisle of Purpose? It’s a whole emotional journey. You start by feeling virtuous about a bag of salad, and you end with a four-pack of Colin the Caterpillar cupcakes and zero regrets.
The staff: the unsung heroes of the M&S mythos
I have to give a shout-out to the team here. They have the patience of saints. I once watched a staff member explain the difference between three types of basmati rice to a confused dad for four minutes. He didn’t flinch.
There’s also a specific breed of M&S staff member—usually in the clothing section—who will tell you, with absolute authority, that “that top is perfect for your skin tone.” You know they say it to everyone. You don’t care. You buy the top.
(Side note: Try asking for a refund. The process is so polite it feels like you’re apologising for being a ‘difficult customer’. You’ll walk out with your money back and a vague feeling you owe them an apology.)
Marks and Spencer | Purley Way Drone Tour - YouTube
