Merrie England, a West Yorkshire cafe chain that has operated for 60 years, has announced its closure. The company, with branches in Huddersfield, Halifax, and Brighouse, stated that the decision was made after facing a sustained increase in various costs.
These rising costs include goods, business rates, energy expenses, staffing, and wider costs associated with government policy. Alongside these pressures, Merrie England also experienced a reduction in customer footfall and spending.
The company expressed gratitude to its customers for their support over the decades and acknowledged the impact on its teams across the seven shops, who have lost their jobs.