Why our sleep experts loved it
Disclaimer: This review is based entirely on the M&S Collection 1050 Pocket Spring Medium Natural Mattress’s listed construction, materials, and specs. I haven’t actually flopped onto it in a showroom; instead, I’m using sleep science and industry know-how to infer how it would feel and perform.
Comfort and Feel This mattress is built as a medium-firm sleep surface, striking a balance between plush cosiness and sturdy support. Its top layer is quilted with luxurious natural fibres - think wool, cotton, and even a touch of silk - plus an insulation pad for extra warmth. Imagine sinking just a smidge into these soft layers before meeting the firm, responsive pocket springs below. You won’t feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud (it’s not marshmallow soft), but rather on a supportive pad that welcomes you with gentle give. In fact, the medium-firm feel is springier than a memory foam mattress, giving a comforting hug without sticking to you.
Support and Spinal Alignment Support-wise, the 1050 pocket springs are key. Each spring lives in its own fabric pocket, allowing it to compress individually under your weight. This means the mattress contours to your body’s curves and keeps your spine in a neutral alignment. Your weight is distributed evenly, so no painful pressure points at the hips or shoulders. For back sleepers, the firm spots under the lumbar region hold up your lower back to prevent sinking, helping keep the spine straight and the body aligned through the night.
Suitability for Sleep Positions Side sleepers: The soft wool and cotton top layers cushion sensitive shoulders and hips, providing gentle pressure relief at those points. The underlying springs adapt to prevent excessive sinking and keep your spine level. Overall, side-sleepers should find this medium mattress fairly comfortable. It won’t cradle you as deeply as an ultra-soft bed, though, so if you prefer sinking deeply into your mattress, you might notice it feels a bit firm on first contact. Back sleepers: Likely the ideal match. The mattress’s support is strong under the lumbar region, which prevents your lower back from sagging. At the same time, the natural fibre padding offers enough give to ease tension in the shoulders and upper back. The result should be a comfortable, well-aligned back-sleeping experience with hips and shoulders gently cradled and supported. Stomach sleepers: Medium-firm beds can be tricky for front-sleepers, since your hips need to stay lifted. This mattress will hold most stomach-sleepers up decently, but very heavy people might feel their midsection sink a little. If you sleep on your front, use a flat or thin pillow to keep your neck neutral. In general, if you’re an extremely dedicated stomach-sleeper seeking a super-firm surface, you might prefer something firmer. Otherwise, this bed should do fine for lighter or position-shifting stomach-sleepers. Suitability for Different Body Types Lightweight sleepers: (Under ~60kg) You may find this mattress feels on the firmer side. The springs won’t compress as much under a lighter body, so the bed gives a more supportive impression. The soft top still provides cushioning, but very petite sleepers might wish for a plusher feel. Average-weight sleepers: (About 60-85kg) This is the sweet spot. You’ll compress enough layers to feel snug without bottoming out. The medium-firm balance should feel just right - giving contouring comfort from the wool/cotton layers while the springs prevent you from sinking too far. Heavy sleepers: (85kg+) You’ll engage a good number of the 1050 springs, making the mattress respond even more firmly. The build seems robust - the coil count is high and the edges are well-stitched - so it should hold up under weight. Still, very heavy sleepers might prefer extra plushness to ease pressure on hips or shoulders over time. That said, the abundant springs are a benefit for heavier bodies, since more coils generally mean better weight distribution. Motion Isolation Thanks to the individually-pocketed springs, this mattress excels at isolating motion. If your partner tosses and turns, those movements stay confined to that one part of the bed. In practice, it’s almost like having a thick divider between sleep halves - excellent if you’re easily disturbed. The wool and cotton padding also help dampen any bounce. In short, you can shift around, get in and out, or deal with nightly sniffles with minimal disturbance to your partner (no trampoline action here).
Temperature Regulation and Breathability Wool and cotton are naturally breathable and great at wicking moisture. This mattress also has 4 side vents built into its design - tiny "windows" that let air circulate through the layers. The combination means body heat is less likely to build up than on a dense foam mattress. Expect a middle-of-the-road sleeping temperature: not an arctic chill, but also not a sauna. In a normal bedroom, it should feel comfortably warm in winter without overheating. And if you tend to sleep hot, the vents and natural fibres help keep things cool.
Materials and Construction 1050 Pocket Springs: The "1050" refers to the spring count (for king size; double has 930, single 620). Each coil is individually wrapped, so the bed adapts to your body point-by-point. A high coil count means lots of support points and less sagging over time. The springs are arranged in a consistent medium-firm pattern, giving a balanced feel across the mattress. Natural Fillings: The comfort layers use natural wool, cotton, and even silk. Wool brings resilience and temperature regulation; cotton adds softness and breathability; silk adds smoothness. These fibres are naturally hypoallergenic, and M&S highlights them as anti-allergy materials. The wool layer especially acts like a built-in thermostat (warm in winter, cooler in summer) and resists dust mites. ActiPro Anti-Allergy Cover: This mattress likely features M&S’s ActiPro fabric, a treated cover that repels dust mites, odours, and other allergens. In practice, the outer cover stays fresher and is kinder to sensitive noses. (Even ignoring ActiPro, the natural fibre interior is good news for allergy sufferers.) Quilted Side Stitching: The edges are quilted for a neat, sturdy finish. This side-stitching helps the mattress keep its shape and reinforces the perimeter. Think of it like hemming a shirt: it prevents fraying and makes the edges feel firm and durable. Ventilation Ports: Four circular vents on the mattress sides improve airflow. These help any trapped moisture escape, keeping the interior drier and fresher over time. Non-Turn Design: You will never need to flip this mattress over - it’s engineered to be one-sided. Instead, use the four handles to rotate it head-to-foot occasionally. This design is a relief if you’ve never mastered the art of flipping a heavy mattress - just a simple rotation keeps everything wearing evenly. Made in UK with 10-Year Guarantee: Built in the UK and backed by a decade-long warranty, this mattress is a sign of solid craftsmanship. A 10-year guarantee usually means the brand stands by its product. In other words, it’s not disposable - it’s meant to endure. Durability and Long-Term Use Given its construction, this mattress should be durable. Pocket springs generally maintain their resilience over time and don’t get permanent indentations like some memory foams can. The wool and cotton layers also recover their loft after compression (though all fibrous layers naturally compact slightly over years). The 10-year guarantee hints that, with normal use and occasional rotation, the bed should stay supportive and comfortable for many years. Keep in mind, though, that natural materials do break down slowly, so the plush top might soften a bit over time. But overall, it’s built to endure years of nightly use.
Ease of Setup and Use You won’t need an Allen key for this one. The mattress arrives fully assembled (usually delivered by a small crew to your room), so you just unwrap and place it on your bed frame. (Hallelujah, something’s easy!) It is heavy - around 26cm thick and roughly 32kg for a king-size - so once it’s in place you probably won’t want to move it alone. The four handles are very handy for rotating it head-to-foot when needed. Because it’s non-flip, maintenance is low-effort: just rotate it a few times a year as recommended. A good slatted base is sufficient; beyond that, treat it like any mattress (a protector can keep it fresh).
Value for Money This M&S mattress sits in the mid-to-upper range of retail prices. You’re paying for a lot of features: a high pocket-spring count, natural fibre fillings, an anti-allergy cover, UK manufacturing, and a 10-year warranty. When M&S runs sales, it becomes very competitive. Sure, if budget is tight there are cheaper foam mattresses out there, but few will match the bounce, breathability, and natural comfort of this one. In short, considering what you get, it feels like good bang-for-your-buck for a long-lasting, high-quality mattress.
Conclusion: Who Is This Mattress For? The 1050 Pocket Spring Medium Natural Mattress is a solid all-rounder suited to many sleepers. It’s ideal for couples and light sleepers who value undisturbed rest (excellent motion isolation), and for anyone with allergies or sensitivities (hypoallergenic fillings and cover). It hits the sweet spot for back and side sleepers with its balanced cushioning and support. Average-weight sleepers will likely find its medium-firm feel just right. On the other hand, if you crave an ultra-plush, sinking-into-a-cloud feel, or if you strictly sleep on your stomach, you might want something firmer or more specialized. But for most folks who enjoy balanced comfort, stable support, and a touch of warmth without overheating, this mattress could be just the ticket for better Zzz’s.
Why you can trust WantMattress
We spend hours testing (and/or researching) every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about
how we test .