Routledges, a family-run bakery chain in Carlisle, has closed all eight of its stores after 109 years of operation. The business cited dramatic cost increases for labour, ingredients, and general operations as the reason for the closure, announcing the decision with 'heavy hearts' on social media.
The first Routledges shop opened as a bakery on Brook Street, Carlisle, in 1917 by the Routledge family. It expanded across the city and became known for its pastries, bread, cakes, and filled rolls.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the chain explained that since the end of 2024, it faced relentless increases in operational and ingredient costs. Minimum wage hikes, business rate rises, and expected energy price increases meant operational costs would be over £80,000 higher than in 2025. Combined with declining high street footfall, the business decided not to face another year of uncertainty.
The statement read: 'This is not something we ever thought we would have to write... with incredibly heavy hearts, we have made the decision not to face another year of rising costs and uncertainty. Routledges has now closed for good after 109 years.'
Routledges operated bakeries in several locations in Carlisle. The closure follows similar moves by other UK bakeries, such as Birds Bakery, which recently shut one of its stores due to rising costs. UKHospitality warned earlier this year that nearly 1,000 restaurants could close as a result of significant cost increases.
