Coughlans Bakery, a long-standing artisan bakery chain co-owned by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, has closed all its branches with immediate effect.
The business entered voluntary liquidation on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, citing a severe escalation in operational expenditures.
Managing Director Sean Coughlan announced the sudden shutdown, explaining that recent economic policy changes and rising overheads added approximately £20,000 per week to the company's expenses.
This made the multi-generation business unsustainable.
“It's with the heaviest of hearts that I'm bringing you the news that sadly we at Coughlans Bakery are closing our doors today for the last time,” Coughlan said in an official statement.
The bakery, which operated since 1937 across south London, West Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, faced a combination of elevated fuel costs tied to international conflicts, new National Insurance contributions, higher business rates, and a recent heatwave.
“The last two months with the fuel prices from the war, new NI charges and higher rates are costing us an extra $20k per week.
This has affected us more than we could have ever imagined,” Coughlan noted.
Despite strong performance in March and the previous fiscal year, along with regional expansion, the financial climate shifted sharply after new government regulations were introduced in April.
“March was a fantastic month, as was a lot of last year with our growth with new stores, but as soon as April's new government rules on NI, wages and rates hit, it instantly hit the high street,” he said.
Coughlan also expressed gratitude toward co-owner Romesh Ranganathan, who joined the third-generation family enterprise as a partner in 2024.
“Thank you... you've been incredible, kind, compassionate and we've had so much fun together.
Fingers crossed we can do something in the future as our partnership is very special and you will be my family forever,” Coughlan stated.
He urged the public to continue supporting independent high street merchants during the economic downturn. “Please please please remember to shop local,” Coughlan wrote.
“Our high streets need your love.”
Ranganathan responded to the closure on social media, expressing his sadness. “Gutted isn't the word,” he said.
Prior to the shutdown, Coughlans operated multiple outlets, including locations on Mayday Road in Croydon, branches in Horley, Crawley, Dorking, and two sites at Piries Place and Blackbridge Lane in Horsham.
