Greggs, the popular bakery chain, has temporarily closed 11 of its stores across the UK on Wednesday and Thursday due to safety concerns caused by the extreme heatwave gripping the nation. The closures, affecting locations from London to Wolverhampton, were prompted by worries over the wellbeing of staff and customers in shops that house large industrial ovens without adequate air conditioning.
An employee at a closed London branch told the BBC that staff had been relocated to other stores. “It's very hot. We have industrial ovens but no proper air conditioning in stores,” the worker said. The chain has not yet issued an official statement, but The Mirror has contacted Greggs for comment.
Affected Stores and Broader Impact
The closed stores are in Aldridge, Wolverhampton, Luton, Gosport, Trowbridge, Barnet, Marlborough, Wantage, Dudley, Northampton, and Leicester Square in London. The decision comes as record-breaking temperatures cause widespread disruption across Britain, with over 1,000 schools closed due to safety concerns and transport networks severely affected.
The RAC reported a 20% increase in callouts for broken-down vehicles on Tuesday compared to usual, as railways were taken out of action by the heat. Operators have warned against non-essential travel.
Weather Warnings Extended
The Met Office has extended its rare red warning for extreme heat, now covering Wednesday and Thursday across southern England, including Brighton, Bognor Regis, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Dorchester. An amber warning for Friday has been issued for eastern and central England, as the heatwave is expected to persist into the weekend.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “We have issued another amber warning for eastern and central England for Friday. As the forecast continues to evolve we may need to issue further updates once more detail becomes clear.”
Political Calls for Action
Liberal Democrat MPs have urged the government to immediately open air-conditioned public buildings such as gyms, leisure centres, and libraries as “cool hubs” for vulnerable people during the heatwave, offering relief from the dangerously high temperatures.
