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Routledges Bakery Shuts After 109 Years With £779,000 Shortfall

The collapse highlights cost pressures that are squeezing small high‑street food businesses.

Overview

  • A Statement of Affairs submitted Monday put the deficit at £778,904.29 and listed just £7,136.67 in readily realisable assets.
  • Thirty‑five employees are listed as creditors, with £14,946 for arrears and holiday pay and £203,514 in unsecured claims, while HMRC is owed £96,128.
  • Lenders and finance firms are owed significant sums, including £117,863 to Funding Circle and £63,268 to Iwoca, with more due to Capital on Tap, YouLend, Capify and EposNow Capital.
  • Liquidators Andrew Little and Gillian Sayburn of Begbies Traynor have disclaimed five Carlisle shop leases, which removes future rent obligations and returns vacant units to landlords.
  • The company pointed to higher wages, business rates, energy and ingredient costs plus falling high‑street footfall, ending an eight‑shop presence in Carlisle after a century in business.