Comedian Romesh Ranganathan Reacts to Bakery Chain Closure
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan expressed that he is "gutted" following the closure of Coughlans Bakery, an 89-year-old bakery chain in which he is a part-owner.
Coughlans Bakery, which operated multiple shops across Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, and south London, announced it had ceased trading on Tuesday after entering voluntary liquidation.
Ranganathan, known for his deadpan comedic style, became a co-owner of the bakery chain in 2024, referring to the partnership as "the partnership of the century."
Managing director Sean Coughlan attributed the closure primarily to the UK government's decision to increase national insurance contributions for employers in April of the previous year, coupled with high business rates.
"The rates have absolutely smashed local business," Coughlan said in a social media post.
He further explained that the combination of these factors, along with a sharp rise in fuel prices following the conflict in the Middle East, resulted in an additional weekly cost of approximately £20,000 for the company.
Coughlan praised Ranganathan, who was born in Crawley and is a vegan, noting that the comedian initially supported the business due to its range of plant-based products.
"I feel like we've absolutely let him down. Everything he's done, it's been from the heart," Coughlan added.
Ranganathan shared Coughlan's video message with his 1.4 million followers on social media, captioning it: "Gutted isn't the word."
Customers had previously formed large queues when Ranganathan worked behind the counter at Coughlans Bakery on Dorking High Street last year.
Additional Factors Leading to Closure
Coughlan also cited the recent heatwaves, which brought temperatures as high as 35°C to the southeast of England, as the "nail in the coffin" for the business.
"No-one really seemed to come out during the hot weather, leaving the business to make about 50% of what we would normally take in a week," he said, "while all the outgoings remained exactly the same."
He described the situation as "heartbreaking."
The decision to enter voluntary liquidation was made to ensure that the company could still meet its financial obligations to suppliers and employees.
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