Coughlans Bakery has entered voluntary liquidation and shut down its outlets across South-East England [1].
The closure of the historic chain marks the end of a business that operated for nearly 90 years, impacting employees and customers in South London, Kent, Surrey, and West Sussex [2].
Founded in 1937 [3], the bakery grew to include 31 stores before the decision to shut down was made [4]. Comedian Romesh Ranganathan became a co-owner of the business in 2024 [5]. The company's age at the time of closure is reported as 89 years [6], though other reports describe it as nearly 100 years [7].
Owner Sean Coughlan said the collapse was due to soaring operational expenses. He cited higher utility bills, increased business rates, and national insurance charges as the primary drivers of the failure [8]. These tax hikes and rising costs created an unsustainable environment for the chain [9].
Ranganathan said he was deeply distressed over the loss of the family-run business. "Gutted isn’t the word," Ranganathan said [10].
The liquidation affects a wide geographic footprint in the South-East of the UK, where the bakery had established a long-term presence [2]. The sudden shutdown of all 31 locations [4] leaves a gap in the local retail landscape for traditional baked goods.
“"Gutted isn’t the word,"”
The collapse of Coughlans Bakery illustrates the current volatility for small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. By citing national insurance charges and business rates as catalysts, the closure highlights how macroeconomic pressures and tax policy can override the stability of a business with nearly nine decades of history.
