Historic UK bakery shuts all stores after 109 years due to ‘relentless’ rise

Routledges bakery closure marks the end of a 109-year legacy after the family-run UK bakery chain shut all stores in one city – the historic bakery cited rising costs and financial uncertainty as key factors

A UK bakery chain shut down all of its outlets earlier this month after facing a deficit of nearly £779,000, according to fresh Companies House documents. Routledges first launched in 1917 when the Routledge family established it on Brook Street in Carlisle.

Throughout the past century, the bakery expanded with various branches across the city and gained recognition for its extensive selection of baked products, including pastries, bread, cakes and filled rolls. The team revealed their closure announcement on March 30 through Facebook, stating that the shops would shut due to “relentless” cost rises.

The family-operated chain declared they were unwilling to endure another year of uncertainty and crushing expenses, such as soaring energy bills, reports the Mirror.

Liquidators Begbies Traynor, who are dissolving the company, provided a more detailed overview of the firm’s financial position in a Statement of Affairs filed on April 27.

It revealed that the business’s estimated total deficiency (the sum it would owe after disposing of all assets) stood at £778,904.29.

The document also detailed that the total assets available for preferential creditors amounted to merely £7,136.67.

The liabilities for preferential creditors alone, including staff (concerning arrears/holiday pay) and HMRC (to cover taxes) totalled £111,074.41.

There was an additional £203,514.42 identified as “unsecured employee claims”. The document reveals that thousands more are also owed to other parties, including lenders and finance providers, trade creditors, as well as the Routledge family itself.

At the time of the closures, the bakery issued a statement announcing their decision “with incredibly heavy hearts”.

Routledges said: “This is not something we ever thought we would have to write.

Since the end of 2024, we have faced relentless increases in our operational and ingredient costs.

“Alongside this, minimum wage increases, business rate increases and the reality of further energy price rises when we renew our contracts in the coming months means our operational costs alone will be over £80,000 higher than in 2025.”

“At the same time, we have seen a continued decline in high street footfall.”

“So, with incredibly heavy hearts, we have made the decision not to face another year of rising costs and uncertainty.”

“Routledges has now closed for good after 109 years.”

The company also added that 2025 was “one of the toughest years we have ever endured”.

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