Morrisons to Close 54 Cafes Across the UK in 2025: Here is the Full List of Affected Locations

Morrisons to Close 54 Cafes Across the UK in 2025: The announcement from supermarket giant Morrisons that it will be closing 54 of its in-store cafes across the UK in 2025 has sent ripples through both retail and local communities alike. 

“Due to intense competition from discount retailers and increasing operational costs, Morrisons is implementing a wide-ranging restructuring strategy that extends beyond its café offerings, focusing instead on its core grocery operations and reducing non-essential services” (Morrisons, 2025).

The cafe closures form a key element of this shift, intended to bolster sustainability and sharpen the chain’s competitive edge. For customers, staff, and local towns where café culture within supermarkets was a regular social hub, the change signals a major shift.

This article breaks down what’s happening, why it is happening, which stores are affected, and what it means for staff and shoppers alike.

Overview Table of the Morrisons Cafe Closure

Category	Details
Number of Cafés to Close	52-54 cafes across the United Kingdom
Other Services Being Cut	Florists (13), Meat Counters (35), Fish Counters (35), Pharmacies (4), Market Kitchens (18)
Number of Jobs at Risk	Approximately 365 roles may be affected
Core Reason for Closures	Rising operational costs, low profitability of cafés and non-core services
Strategy Focus	Refocus on core grocery operations and value offerings
Post Category	Finance
Official Website	https://www.morrisons.com/

Morrisons Cafe Closure Plan: What is Going On?

Morrisons has confirmed a significant restructuring programme, centred on closing about 52 cafés in its stores by the end of 2025. The move is part of a wider optimisation strategy that also includes the shuttering of florists, meat and fish counters, pharmacies, and prepared-food “Market Kitchen” units. 

The chain argues that many of these services carry disproportionately high costs relative to the customer usage and value they deliver. By scaling back these elements, Morrisons aims to streamline operations, reduce overhead, and focus investment on areas that contribute most directly to customer satisfaction and profitability.

Why Are These Closures Happening?

There are several key drivers behind Morrisons’ decision:

• Cost Pressures: Labour, energy, and regulatory costs continue to rise and squeeze margins in every aspect of retail operations. Morrisons cited sections where “costs of operations are significantly out of line with usage, volumes or the value that customers place on them.”
  
• Competitive Shift: With discount chains such as Aldi overtaking Morrisons’ market position, the pressure is on to reduce expenditure and focus on core grocery value.
  
• Changing Shopping Habits: In-store cafés and specialty services are no longer key differentiators; customers seek cheaper essentials and faster trips rather than café meals in supermarkets.
  
• Operational Efficiency: By closing cafés and other non-core formats, Morrisons aims to free up space for more profitable uses and invest in areas that deliver stronger margins and higher footfall.

Full List of Cafe Closure Locations

Here is a selection of confirmed or expected locations for cafe closures. While the full official list is still being finalised, dozens of cafes across the UK are included:

1. Scotland: Paisley (Falside Rd), Bellshill (John St), Dumbarton (Glasgow Rd), East Kilbride (Lindsayfield, Stewartfield), Glasgow (Newlands), Largs (Irvine Rd), Troon (Academy St), Wishaw (Kirk Rd), Bathgate, Helensburgh, Banchory (North Deeside Rd).
2. North England: Bradford (Thornbury), Failsworth (Poplar St), Blackburn (Railway Rd), Leeds (Swinnow Rd, Horsforth), Kirkham (Poulton St), Newcastle (U.T. Cowgate), Elland, Mansfield Woodhouse.
3. Midlands: Lutterworth (Bitteswell Rd), Bromsgrove (Buntsford Industrial Park), Solihull (Warwick Rd), Northampton (Kettering Rd), Gloucester (Metz Way).
4. South England & Wales: Portsmouth, Great Park, Crowborough, Hadleigh, High Wycombe (Temple End), Leighton Buzzard (Lake St), Sidcup, Welwyn Garden City (Black Fan Rd), Warminster, Weymouth (St.), Oxted (Station Yard), Reigate (Bell St), Borehamwood, Weybridge (Monument Hill), Watford (Ascot Rd), Littlehampton (Wick), Brecon (Free St), Caernarfon (North Rd), Connah’s Quay.
   This is likely not exhaustive and may be updated as Morrisons publishes its official confirmation.

Impact on Staff and Customers

The closures mean real change for employees and shoppers. Around 365 roles are reported to be at risk, though Morrisons says it will attempt to redeploy many affected staff into other positions within the business.

For customers, the loss of a café means fewer on-site meals and social spaces within what was a community hub inside supermarkets. In some towns and stores the café was more than just a food offering, it was a place to meet, rest and socialise. With those gone, shoppers may shift to café chains, seek dining out options, or leave earlier to less expensive formats.

What Comes Next for Morrisons?

With cafes and other in-store services being cut back, Morrisons is placing emphasis on its core grocery operations and convenience formats. The chain is likely to repurpose spaces freed up by cafe closures for other uses or third-party partnerships, and invest in areas that deliver stronger margins and higher footfall. 

Industry watchers say the battle for Britain’s grocery pound is changing: survival will depend less on cafes and more on how retailers compete on price, value, and convenience.

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