Beloved high street bakery to shut its doors after 70 years as customers cry ‘best cakes & sausages rolls I’ve ever had’

A BELOVED family-run bakery is to shut its doors after 70 years in yet another blow to high streets.

Central Bakery in Leominster, Herefordshire, announced the closure on Friday - and it's left loyal customers "gutted."

3

3

The closure of the iconic bakery came "with deep sadness" and was a "very difficult and emotional" decision.

The Burke family made the announcement to heartbroken fans on Facebook, saying the pandemic, the death of David Burke and escalating costs drove it to a close.

The post also blames the dwindling footfall of the three-generation-run bakery on the development of the high street.

Central Bakery said: "After nearly 70 years of trading as Central Bakery this decision has been a very difficult and emotional one.

"We have loved being one of the focal points of Leominster and most of our customers and people of Leominster won’t remember a time without the Central Bakery being there.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for your many years of support.

"So between now and when we close, please come in and grab your favourite Central Bakery goodies whilst you can."

Heartbroken locals took to the comments to express their sadness.

One person said: "So sad. The best cakes & sausages rolls I’ve ever had."

Another commented: "I have many memories coming into the shop. My Nan worked there from as far back as I can remember until her retirement. The best custard slices I have ever tasted."

And: "Absolutely gutted, I grew up coming here."

But the tragic closure isn't the first of its kind - and definitely won't be the last.

It comes after the owners of Lawrance's Bakery and Bar in Cornwall said they have faced "really hard decisions" over shutting its doors.

Owners Phil Lawrance and Lucy Curnow have already closed one of their three locations - their Falmouth store.

Now they and are set to shut the doors of the Truro Bar on New Bridge Street, which they opened five years ago.

Phil and Lucy said in posts on social media: "You might have noticed we’ve been very quiet on here. We have made some really hard decisions to start winding down Lawrance’s.

"With the leases of both Truro shops coming to an end we felt naturally this would be the right time for us to start closing the doors and opening a new chapter for us both.

"We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 5 years and to all of our incredible staff who have been on this journey.

"It has been an amazing ride and we are super proud of what we have managed to achieve with Lawrance’s."

The New Bridge Street store is set to close today after hosting a goodbye party last night.

The bakery in Truro is set to stick around a little longer, but the Falmouth location has already been closed.

3