The closure decision was announced on Monday morning via a Facebook post, according to multiple reports. The first Routledge shop opened in 1917 on Brook Street, Carlisle, by the Routledge family, and the business expanded across Carlisle, known for baked goods like pastries, bread, cakes, and filled rolls. Its stores were located in Brook Street, Central Avenue, Morton, Mount Pl, Newtown, Warwick Road, and Wigton in Carlisle, serving the local community for decades.
The business cited dramatic cost increases for labor, ingredients, and general operations as reasons for the closure. In a statement, Routledges the Bakers said that this was not something they ever thought they would have to write, noting that since the end of 2024, they have faced relentless increases in operational and ingredient costs. Operational costs alone are projected to be over £80,000 higher than in 2025 due to factors like minimum wage increases, business rate increases, and energy price rises, the business added. According to the statement, 2025 was one of the toughest years the business ever endured, with financial pressures mounting significantly.
Routledges the Bakers also reported a continued decline in high street footfall. The business was not willing to face another year of rising costs and uncertainty, stating that at the same time, they have seen a continued decline in high street footfall, leading to the decision not to face another year of such challenges. Routledges has now closed for good after 109 years, marking the end of a long-standing local institution. The exact date of the closure announcement and specific financial losses incurred in 2025 have not been disclosed. It remains unknown how many employees are affected by the closure or if there are any plans for the business to reopen under new ownership or in a different format. Support or reactions from local authorities or community groups have not been confirmed.