Colchester city centre – shops you want in the High Street

Next, Marks and Spencer, and Debenhams were all big favourites amongst shoppers who liked to stay local when they were treating themselves to something, or buying a friend or relative a gift.

So, when we asked readers which brands they would like to see come to Colchester – or in some cases, come back to Colchester – we were flooded with hundreds of suggestions from readers who are desperate to see the good times return to the heart of the city.

Here were some of your top picks…

Independent businesses

Fighting on – Crouch Street is still one of the best places in Colchester for independent businesses (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Give independents a chance with better rates. Need classy modern choices – Patricia Bray

We need more independent businesses being able to set up and maintain themselves in our town centre, not multimillion pound brands who do fine without a store in an already struggling area. Butchers, greengrocers, bakers, local produce. – Robbie Raymer

None. I would like to see more independent shops thriving, rather than dull, soulless chains. – Johnny Love

You should turn old M&S into an indoor market. Independent shops! Butchers, fruit and veg, zero waste dried goods or refill bulk stores, fish mongers, or delis. – Victoria Waite

Greengrocers, fishmongers, butchers, bakers… let's support local instead of the big company chains. – Sanchia Nash

What I want for Colchester are independent shops. Local people selling their wares. Things you don’t see in other towns – Debs McAndrew

Marks and Spencer

Missed – plenty of shoppers are still disappointed at the loss of Marks and Spencer to Colchester High Street (Image: Daniel Rees/Newsquest)

M&S back to the High Street – Mary Adams

Marks and Sparks would be great idea, oh wait… - Nev Drysdale

Anything that’s not a coffee shop. Bring back M&S. You can always dream I guess – Nathalie Muir

M&S all day long – Johan West

How about marks and Spencer’s back in the High Street – Yvonne Lowther

M&S. I’m really missing it being in the town – Abbie Shannon

Lakeland

Potential – a Lakeland shop in the city centre would be welcomed by many shoppers (Image: Google Street View)

Kitchen shop like Spoils or Lakeland, M&S, John Lewis – Michelle Williamson

Lakeland 1000 per cent – Rachel Wilkin

Zara

Fashionable – A Zara store is in demand for shoppers in Colchester (Image: Google Street View)

Zara and White company – Caroline Ridge-Pace

Zara, Homesense and H&M home, the White Company.... but are we ever going to get them? We've been upgraded to a city centre now so the shops should reflect that – Marney Linsell

Zara and Homesense – Sophia Rose

Morrisons

In demand – there is a Morrison's supermarket in Clacton, but the store has long been wanted in Colchester too (Image: Google Street View)

Definitely Morrisons for supermarket but then I'd love to see lots of small independent shops in the city centre, and a vibrant open air food market – Stella Kerins

Morrisons in the old M&S – Nick Price

Morrisons, definitely – Matthew Able

Morrisons, a decent proper butchers, a decent older woman’s clothes shop, a decent greengrocers, a fresh fish shop, don’t care about brands just decent shops – Jane Evans

IKEA

Fanciful – shoppers want to see an Ikea come to Colchester, but it seems highly unlikely (Image: Google Street View)

We need an IKEA, who agrees? – Becky Martin

IKEA, Zara, John Lewis – Ola Batrakova