High street bakery giant Greggs has shut the doors of one of its most popular central London branches, a move that has left local students dismayed. The closure of the 'always packed' Strand branch, situated less than a minute's walk from King's College London's Strand Campus, forms part of a wider restructuring that has seen 56 shops close since 2025.
Student Hub Closes Its Doors
A sign confirmed the permanent closure on 5th January, directing customers to another shop nearby at 421-422 The Strand. The branch was a staple for students seeking a quick and affordable meal between lectures, often noted for its long queues. Speaking to student publication The King's Tab, one scholar expressed sadness, stating the shop's proximity to campus made it an ideal spot for a cheap bite. Another lamented, "No please, why can't we have good things in life?", while a third dramatically compared the shutdown to "the Titanic sinking". However, not all feedback was negative, with one person suggesting there were "so many better options" available.
A Challenging Period for the Bakery Chain
This specific closure is not an isolated incident. Last year, the sausage roll and pasty specialist trimmed its estate to 2,649 stores nationwide following what it described as a "challenging start" to 2025. The company's Chief Executive, Roisin Currie, remains optimistic about future growth, asserting, "I absolutely don't believe we have reached peak Greggs." She highlighted the business's fundamental strength and its history of recovering from downturns.
Investor Concerns and Market Debate
Despite leadership confidence, financial analysts have voiced concerns. Zoe Gillespie, a wealth manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin, noted that Greggs had warned of lower profits, partly due to good weather reducing demand. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, suggested a lack of current trading information has left investors wondering if the business has "become as stale as a day-old Belgian bun." This fuels an ongoing debate about whether the chain has expanded too rapidly, if its menu is now too bloated, and if changing consumer tastes towards healthier options are impacting its core pastry-focused offerings.
The closure of the bustling Strand branch serves as a tangible symbol of the pressures facing the high street favourite, even as it maintains a network of over 2,600 locations across the UK.
