MasterChef star closes all of his bakeries in Britain due to sharp rise in costs.

Closure of Longboys Dessert Atelier

According to The Sun: The MasterChef star announced the closure of his patisseries in the UK due to rising costs. Graham Hornigold, a participant in Junior Bake Off, founded the Longboys restaurant in 2019, but just six years later, the business has come to an end.

All three Longboys ateliers in London, located on Liverpool Street, Coal Drops Yard, and Market Halls Canary Wharf, have closed permanently.

Reason for Closure

On his Instagram page, the pastry chef wrote:

“You may have noticed that we have been a bit quieter than usual. The truth is that due to rising inflation, changes in national insurance, and increased product costs, the last few months have been extremely difficult.”

“Like many small independent establishments in the UK hospitality sector, we have felt these impacts very strongly.”

“You may have already seen that we made the difficult decision to close all Longboys locations with hopes of recovery. Unfortunately, we will not be able to return them.”

“But this is not the end – it is merely a redirect.”

Graham also noted that he and his team will “fix themselves and move on.”

Longboys gained popularity due to their finger-shaped desserts and eclair hybrids with unique flavors such as Sticky Toffee Pudding and Raspberry Rose Lychee.

Fan Reactions

Users expressed their outrage over the closure. One of them wrote:

“Very sorry to hear this news!”

Another noted:

“Your lychee and raspberry desserts will forever remain in my memory.”

A third added:

“Sad to hear this news. I visited your Coal Drops Yard shop many times.”

Closure of Other Restaurants

Longboys is not the only establishment facing difficulties. Rick Stein's restaurant in Marlborough may also close, just five years after it was saved. A representative of the restaurant stated:

“We confirm that we are offering the closure of our restaurant in Marlborough and are consulting with the team to explore options to avoid this.”

In addition, chef Dom Taylor announced last month the closure of his Marvee's Food Shop in Ladbroke Grove, London, due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

This situation highlights the tough times for small gastronomy establishments in the UK, where economic difficulties, especially rising costs, significantly impact businesses. The closure of Longboys has become a striking example of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in this industry and has resonated among fans worldwide.