Huge blow for UK city as popular bakery closes – ‘we want less stress’

Exeter’s Queen Street is set to lose one of its favourite sweet spots, as Big Bakes Bakery announced the closure of its Exeter location. Owners Ryan Bolton and Charlie Deeley confirmed that the shop will close once the current lease expires, though the business will continue online and at its Torquay premises.

The bakery, which began as Get Cupcaked in 2010 during the cupcake boom, has built a loyal following with its generously-sized brownies, cookies, and cake slices. For more than four years, the Exeter shop became a hub for locals seeking indulgent treats.

In a heartfelt post on Facebook, Bolton and Deeley said the decision is motivated primarily by a desire to reduce stress and pressure.

They wrote: “Growth and running multiple shops works brilliantly for some people, but we’ve learned that it’s just not for us.”

They added that the move will allow them to focus on creativity and dedicate more attention to their online business and wholesale operations.

The owners also acknowledged the financial pressures facing small businesses. Rising costs for ingredients, wages, business rates, and national insurance have made managing multiple locations increasingly challenging.

Still, they said that the closure is not a failure but the natural conclusion of the Exeter chapter, Devon Live reported.

To mark the shop’s final week, from Tuesday, January 20 to Saturday, January 24, Big Bakes will host special offers and giveaways, inviting regulars to celebrate the shop’s legacy. “The last four and a half years of trading in Exeter have meant the world to us,” they said.

The closure follows a similar decision by The Exploding Bakery, which shuttered its Queen Street premises in December, highlighting the difficulties faced by small, independent bakeries in the city center.

Big Bakes’ Exeter site will be taken over by Portal Pizza, a thriving independent that has gained popularity since opening outside the Topsham Brewery Taproom in 2021. The move coincides with developments at the brewery, which recently took over the former Tabac Taphouse and plans to open a new bar early this year.

While the physical Exeter shop is closing, Big Bakes is set to continue delighting fans online and at Torquay, ensuring that its baked treats remain available to loyal customers.