From Dorothy Pax to Lancasters Bakery these 13 Yorkshire businesses all closed in the first half of 2025

Just months into 2025, several well-known businesses across Yorkshire have already closed their doors, with a mix of independent eateries and major chains being affected by rising costs and financial challenges.

Two Brothers Grill & Pizzeria in Knaresborough, after nearly seven years of operation, shut down on January 12 despite significant investments and efforts to overcome rising expenses. Similarly, Lancasters Bakery, a staple in Harrogate for 119 years, closed on February 1 due to mounting costs and changes in business rates.

Long-established eateries have also been hit, with Santoro Restaurant in Yarm closing after nearly 50 years of operation.

Sheffield's beloved venue, The Dorothy Pax, shut its doors on March 3 due to mounting financial pressures, while Emma’s Sandwich Shop in Leeds permanently closed on March 1 following hygiene violations.

The closure trend also extended to larger chains, including Cineworld, which closed its Castleford cinema on January 19 as part of a nationwide restructuring.

WHSmith in Keighley also shut down in February, citing a broader restructuring plan, and Superdry in Bradford Broadway closed on March 15 after a closing-down sale.

Retail giants like Homebase, Morrisons, and Sainsbury's have also made cuts in Yorkshire, with Sainsbury's closing all its remaining in-store cafés by April 11, 2025, impacting over 3,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, Hobbycraft confirmed the closure of nine stores across the UK, further impacting the retail landscape.