Shock as Hoxton Bakehouse Closes in Market Street After Less Than a Year

Published on: 28 Mar, 2023
Updated on: 30 Mar, 2023

By Hugh Coakley

There was shocked reaction to the sudden closure of the Hoxton Bakehouse shop after only nine months open in the town.

It opened “with a bang” in June 2022 in Market Street but closed today (March 28) without warning, leaving customers stunned.

The empty closed Hoxton Bakehouse in Market Street today.

“The first I heard about it was when I came this morning for bread” said one. “It’s really sad,” said another. “It just shows how competitive it is out there.”

A typed sheet in the shop window from Darren Bland, founder of Hoxton Bakehouse expressed regret for the closure saying: “It has been a real pleasure baking bread and roasting coffee for the good people of Guildford.”

The company’s website still shows the Guildford branch as operating, highlighting the speed of the shop’s demise.

Notice bluetacked to the shop window announcing the closure.

There are reports the company has had difficulty in getting local staff to the shop, the most northerly of their eight branches.

Staff in the store this morning blamed competition including from Ole & Steen, the hugely popular bakery and cafe which opened in December 2022 close by in the High Street, and Black Sheep Coffee in North Street.

But these are not the only new cafes or restaurants opened in the town in the last year.

The cafe rush includes Deli Italy in The Shambles, Jo and the Juice and Fallen Angel in the High Street, Gordos Mexican and Itsu Asian fast food in North Street. Additionally, Megans and the Coppa Club are soon to open in the High Street.

A Dragon reader complained saying: “It would seem that High Streets are now just food and drink outlets”, questioning whether the right balance is being struck in the retail offering in the town. But there is little control over which types of business open where.

Sean Parrott, director of the Hoxton Bakehouse group said: “Over the last three years Hoxton Bakehouse have opened eight retail units across the South of England, the majority of them in the last 18 months. We were always aware that, as with most retailers, some sites or geographical areas don’t always work for a particular brand or offering.

“Following an internal review of the performance of the Guildford store, and the competition presently in the area and arriving, our conclusion was that we would be better served to focus our attention on the other stores in the estate, and use the extra production capacity released as a result to service our rapidly expanding wholesale business.

“Staffing throughout the leisure industry as a whole has been challenging for some time, however we are very fortunate with our team at Hoxton’s – having to say goodbye to our Guildford employees was the worst aspect of the decision to close.”

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