Thomas the Baker plans to open a store on Boroughbridge High Street, where the Cooplands bakery used to be.

Cooplands closed its Boroughbridge store last April following “an in-depth review of the business”, having opened it nearly three years ago in February 2021. The Scarborough-based chain’s closest store is now on Beulah Street, Harrogate.

Beulah Street Cooplands in Harrogate.

Thomas the Baker has submitted a planning application to North Yorkshire Council for a replacement shopfront including new non-illuminated fascia and projecting sign.

People can comment on the application concerning the new store at 33 High Street until this Sunday, January 7. The store would add to the current number of bakeries in the market tow, which include Gilchrist’s and Havenhands.

The family-owned bakery chain headquartered in Helmsley was established in 1981. The company has 30 shops across Yorkshire and the North-East, including: Ripon, Knaresborough, Thirsk, Acomb, Easingwold, Haxby, Kirbymoorside, Malton, Pickering, Scarborough, Selby and four in York.

Read more:

• Call for council to improve ‘poor’ Boroughbridge road conditions
• Lidl scraps plan to open Ripon retail park store

Cooplands has closed its bakery in Boroughbridge after little more than two years.

The company, which is the second largest bakery chain in the district, opened a shop on the town’s High Street in February 2021.

But a sign appeared in the window recently saying the shop had now closed permanently and the nearest branch was on Beulah Street in Harrogate.

The Harrogate shop

The Stray Ferret asked Cooplands why it had closed its Boroughbridge branch and how many staff were affected.

A spokesperson said:

“Following an in-depth review of the business, we have proposed to make some changes to both our retail and bakery operations, to help better position the business for the long-term and sustainable growth.

“This has been done to ensure that our store estate and broader business are fully aligned with our ‘modern bakery food-to-go retailer’ strategy.

“As a result, we have entered into a consultation process with a number of colleagues. We appreciate that this may be unsettling for colleagues and our priority is to support them fully throughout this process.”

The spokesperson declined to comment beyond the statement.

Cooplands started as a single shop in Scarborough in 1885 and now has more than 160 shops in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East.

It was bought in 2021 by the EG Group.

Read more:

• New children’s nursery planned for farm near Boroughbridge
• Harrogate Neighbours opens care home in Boroughbridge