Coughlans Bakery Closes: Romesh Ranganathan Devastated
The Heart of Our High Streets Under Threat
The sudden closure of Coughlans Bakery, an 89-year-old institution with branches stretching across Surrey, Kent, West Sussex, and South London, has sent shockwaves through our local high streets. For nearly nine decades, this family-founded bakery chain has been the backbone of our communities, particularly in areas like Crawley, where residents and workers gathered daily. Regulars describe the bakery as a vital social hub. Josie Smith, who works near the Crawley branch, shared her deep sadness over the loss, noting how the bakery brought people together and served as her go-to lunch spot. Her colleague, Kaitlin Stinton, praised the exceptionally friendly and dedicated staff who brightened everyone’s day. The loss of Coughlans is not just about losing a place to buy freshly baked bread; it represents a fading era of familiar faces and community-oriented spaces on our high streets. From morning commuters grabbing a quick pastry to local workers taking a well-deserved break, the bakery’s presence was a comforting constant in the daily lives of thousands of residents across the South East.
The Face Behind the Counter and the Fight to Survive
Behind the counter, the struggle to keep the iconic chain afloat reveals the harsh economic realities facing independent businesses today. Managing director Sean Coughlan made the heartbreaking decision to enter voluntary liquidation to ensure staff and suppliers were paid, but the closure has devastated everyone involved. Among them is Crawley-born comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who became co-owner in 2024. A passionate vegan, Ranganathan championed the bakery’s extensive plant-based range, but even his high-profile support could not offset a compounding series of financial hits. Coughlan pointed to soaring business rates, national insurance hikes, and fuel increases that added a staggering £20,000 a week to operational costs. Furthermore, extreme summer heatwaves saw footfall halve as customers stayed indoors, proving to be the final straw. This downturn affected everyone, including local tradespeople. A builder popping in for lunch between working on a loft conversion or a home loft refurbishment would find a welcoming spot, but as costs mounted, even this reliable trade could not bridge the gap. Coughlan expressed deep regret, sharing that he felt he had let Ranganathan and the loyal community down.
What This Means for Our High Streets and How to Help
The closure of Coughlans Bakery is a stark wake-up call for our neighbourhoods. When an established business with 89 years of history cannot survive, it highlights the urgent need to support the independent shops that define our local character. High streets across Surrey and West Sussex risk becoming generic corridors of vacant units if action is not taken to protect small enterprises. Residents are encouraged to shop locally wherever possible, choosing independent bakers, grocers, and cafes over multinational corporations. What we must watch next is how local councils and the government address the crippling business rates and operational costs that pushed Coughlans over the edge. In the meantime, the immediate concern turns to the dedicated staff members who have lost their livelihoods overnight. Community groups are already rallying online to share job openings and support networks for the displaced workers. As we mourn the loss of our favourite vegan pastries and friendly chats, let this be the catalyst that drives us to actively invest in our high streets, ensuring other cherished local institutions do not meet the same fate.
Source: Romesh Ranganathan ‘gutted’ as his South East bakery chain shuts down
