Beloved UK coffee shop chain announces sudden closure of ALL its locations with ‘great sadness’ after 60 years

A BELOVED UK coffee shop chain has revealed it will shutter all of its locations following 60 years on the high street. Merrie England, known for its traditional Tudor themed cafes, is set to vanish after it could no longer cope with rising costs. The chain operated across West Yorkshire and had a total of six locations, including a Drive-Thru branch Credit: Unknown In a statement, the business described said the move brought the team “great sadness”. “This has been an incredibly difficult decision, reached after facing a sustained increase in the cost of goods, business rates, energy costs, and the wider rising costs associated with staffing and government policy,” it read. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! “Alongside these pressures, we have also seen a reduction in footfall and customer spending, with many people understandably unable or unwilling to pay the prices that businesses now need to charge in order to survive.” the statement continued. The chain operated across West Yorkshire and had a total of six locations, including a drive-thru branch. It was known for dishing up classics such as teacakes, egg custard and apple pie. Fans of the chain have taken to social media to share their heartbreak with many describing it as the “end of an era”. “Oh no this is devastating. The quality and consistency over that time has always been so good,” said one upset customer. “This is very sad, part of our town’s history and features now gone,” said another fan. Most read in Money “Very sad and a significant part of many lives,” a third cried. It comes amid a tough time for the UK’s hospitality sector, with many feeling the pain of rising costs and shoppers having less money to burn. Come September, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and three other chains including Bar + Block will vanish from the high street for good as part of an overhaul plan by parent company Whitbread. Full list of Merrie England branches closing for GOOD Merrie England – Oakes (Drive In) — Huddersfield Merrie England – Brighouse — Brighouse Merrie England – Kirkgate — Huddersfield Merrie England – New Street — Huddersfield Merrie England – Halifax — Halifax Merrie England – Packhorse — Huddersfield Comment now