A much-loved café and bakehouse in Bath city centre has closed due to the cost of living crisis. Daisy & Bean owners Molly and Em said they were unable to keep up with increasing costs at the Gay Street establishment in an emotional farewell to their customers.
In an announcement on their Facebook page on Sunday, December 29, the owners said: “We can’t believe we are having to write this. Daisy & Bean has closed its doors for the final time.
“The last 18 months have been the best of our lives. We have worked with the most incredible people, and we want to thank our amazing, kind and wonderful team for everything they have put into our little shop.
“The cost of living crisis and the news of the new budget on the horizon is making it increasingly hard for small businesses to survive. Heartbreakingly, we have not been able to keep up with the ever increasing costs.
“The saddest thing of all is that we will not be seeing your gorgeous faces day in and day out. Thank you to everyone who has been there for us since day one and made Daisy & Bean what it is today.
“Anyone who has existing celebration cake and wedding cake orders, please be assured that these will be honoured and we will be making every one of these orders and will get in touch with you in due course.”
Molly and Em went on to plead with the public to support independent shops: “Please support your small businesses. Without them, we are lost. All our love to all of you, always. Know that we are here for you. The community we had and held still exists and will flourish.”
Daisy & Bean were a LGBT+ friendly café located on Gay Street. The company was founded in 2021 and the bricks and mortar shop was set up in April 2023.
According to the most recent census, 5.95% of people aged 16 or older in Central Bath and Lansdown identify as gay, bisexual or otherwise not heterosexual. In Bath and North East Somerset as a whole, almost 4% identified this way (3.99%).
Since opening, Daisy & Bean won the New Business award at the 2024 Bath Life Awards. The bakehouse was described as “Definitely one to watch for this distinctive, authentic café, with sales-per-head sharply increasing, offer expanding and sales on track to hit £250K in its first year.”
After announcing their closure, messages of support poured in from customers. One person said: “So sorry. My 80th birthday cake you made was quite amazing.”
Another person wrote: “Such sad news – Daisy and Bean was such a special place to spend time in. Everybody involved worked their socks off to make it such a very wonderful safe place. Grandpa and I will miss those fabulous cookies!”