NEGOTIATIONS are ongoing to persuade fashion giant Zara to open a shop in Colchester, the city’s business chief has revealed.

Sam Good, of Colchester Business Improvement District, said the hugely popular brand is “top of our list” for shops he wants to bring to the city centre.

It came during a chat with Will Quince on the MP’s upcoming podcast, The Colchester Podcast, which the Gazette was given an exclusive first listen to.

During the half an hour recording Mr Quince said when speaking to residents about the city centre “the number one question I get asked is: ‘When are we going to get a Zara?’”.

Gazette: Popular - a Zara shop elsewhere in the UKPopular - a Zara shop elsewhere in the UK (Image: PA)

Mr Good responded: “We are trying, I’ve been trying for five years. Zara is top of our list but so are many others.

“Zara is on my list, I promise.”

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The duo also discussed the possibility of Marks and Spencer returning to the city centre after it closed its High Street store last September.

Gazette: Growing - footfall in Colchester city centre is steadily increasingGrowing - footfall in Colchester city centre is steadily increasing (Image: Newsquest)

The Colchester MP told the podcast he remains “on a mission” to get the supermarket back and that he is still locked in debates with its leaders.

He continued: “It was a massive blow when they decided to leave the city centre and move out to Stanway and actually I’m told the store there is doing incredibly well.

“Footfalls are up and their sales are up and it’s all great news for M&S but not great news for Colchester city centre and, you know, I am on a mission.

Gazette: Negotiations - BID boss Sam GoodNegotiations - BID boss Sam Good

Gazette: Getting chatty - Will Quince has launched his own podcastGetting chatty - Will Quince has launched his own podcast (Image: Newsquest)

“I don’t think we are ever going to be able to get an M&S full store back here because the market has just completely changed, but there is definitely a market for a food hall here in Colchester.”

Mr Good added: “We will get them back. If we don’t get them back we will get someone just as good, if not better.

“We will keep feeding into M&S how great Colchester city centre is doing. If they believe it matches their plans they will come back in.”

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