West Yorkshire café and bakery chain Merrie England has shut down with the closure of seven shops.
Founded in 1966, Merrie England ran seven coffee shops across Huddersfield, Halifax and Brighouse. A central bakery operated from the chain’s drive-thru site on New Hey Road in the Huddersfield suburb of Oakes, and the business employed 53 staff. It had recorded a turnover of £4.3m in the period from June 2024 to November 2025.
Merrie England said the decision to close followed a sustained increase in the cost of goods, business rates, energy costs, and the wider rising costs associated with staffing and government policy.
In a statement on its website, the business added that it had also seen a drop 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”.
“After 60 years of serving our customers, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us over the decades. Your loyalty, kindness, and custom have meant so much to us.”
More than a thousand comments have been made on a Facebook post announcing the closure of the business.
A buyer is now being sought for Merrie England by BPI Asset Advisory, who described the business as “a familiar name across West Yorkshire, serving generations of customers with traditional favourites including teacakes, egg custards and homemade apple pie”.
The business and assets are available as a whole or as individual or multiple outlets and include the registered Merrie England trademark, together with café furnishings, catering equipment and bakery equipment.
“It’s always sad to see a long-established business reach this point, particularly one that has been part of the local community for so many years,” said BPI Assets Advisory director Mark Hodgson. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the closure.”
“Our role now is to manage the sale of the business and its assets professionally and sensitively, while seeking the best possible outcome. We hope this opportunity will attract interest from buyers who recognise the value of an established regional brand and the quality of the business and its locations.”
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