Overview

• Wilkin & Sons closed its Southwold tea room on April 25, 2025, marking the end of its first venture outside Essex since opening in 2019.
• The company is redirecting investment to tea rooms closer to its Tiptree base, citing financial pressures from inflation and rising energy costs.
• Nick Goldsack, head of tea room operations, expressed disappointment and gratitude to staff, loyal customers, and the Southwold community.
• The closure reflects broader struggles in the hospitality sector, with chains like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's also downsizing operations.
• Robby’s Tea Shop in Luton, a beloved local institution since 1972, also shut down earlier this month after failing to renew its lease.