From long-standing high street names to much-loved independents, this year has been a tough one for Yorkshire’s business community.
Shifting consumer habits, rising costs and a challenging economic backdrop have all played a part, leaving familiar shopfronts dark and forcing the end of stories that once felt permanent.
In this article, we look back at 12 businesses Yorkshire said goodbye to this year, each one a reminder of how quickly the local landscape can change, and of the people, places and memories tied up in them.
5. Emma’s Sandwich Shop
Emma’s Sandwich Shop on Wortley Road, Armley, permanently closed after food hygiene officers discovered a raft of failures including evidence of an active widespread rat infestation. Photo: Google Maps
6. Lawrence Brothers DIY
Staff at the Maltby branch of Lawrence Brothers DIY, which permanently closed. Photo: Kerrie Beddows
7. Superdry
The clothing retailer initiated a closing-down sale at its Bradford Broadway branch this year, and permanently shut in March due to challenging trading conditions and declining revenues. Photo: Google Maps
8. The Staveley Arms
In a statement issued on its Facebook page, the Staveley Arms, in North Stainley near Ripon, said the decision to close had been made with great disappointment and sadness. The Staveley Arms had reopened in October 2023 following a seven-month period of closure under proprietors Steve Mortimer, Fay Howell and Oliver Renton. Photo: Contributed