For every fresh, exciting venture that springs up, London sheds an old favourite. Once again, it's time to cue the melancholy piano for our list of places that closed down in 2025.
Applecart Arts, Newham
A last-ditch fundraising effort wasn't enough to save Applecart Arts in Plashet Park, east London. Some 700 emerging artists and 100 theatre companies enjoyed exposure from this community arts centre, which was founded in 2008 by Peter Moreton, and later gained charity status. Applecart's sad demise brings to light how grassroots ventures like these don't just nurture budding talent, but bring with them their own economy: it's thought that in the 16 years it was around, the charity injected some £1.2m into the local economy.
Brixton Cycles
"Brixton Cycles wasn't just a place to fix bikes — it was a labour of love, a community hangout, and a haven for anyone who believed in two wheels over four. We gave it everything. For years, we have been at the coalface, all the while trying to keep cycling accessible in a city that doesn't always make it easy. But the truth is, between rising costs, a brutal economic climate, and a million other small battles, we just couldn’t make it work anymore." So goes the statement posted by the Brixton Cycles team. The news of this much-loved spot's fate will have left many south London cyclists feeling more deflated than a bike with a double puncture.
Crayford Stadium
Wimbledon, Walthamstow, Catford... one by one, London greyhound racing tracks are falling away. Now add to that list Crayford, which ran its last race on 19 January 2025. First opening on a speedway track in 1930, a purpose-built stadium opened in 1986, flourishing during the heady days of going to the dogs. Not everyone will be heartbroken to see Crayford Stadium go, of course — some find greyhound racing to be a cruel sport, with calls to cease it altogether. Nevertheless, another piece of the old London has bitten the dust.
Cronx Brewery, Croydon
2025 had barely got going when it was announced that the Cronx Brewery — whose Croydon taproom featured on our tram crawl of south London — had gone into liquidation. It might not quite be last orders yet, though: a "Cronxortium" of four local investors means the brewery may rise from the ashes. Hold that thought.
Daniel of Ealing
Rising costs and challenging market conditions were blamed on the demise of Daniel of Ealing, which opened on Ealing Uxbridge Road in 1901 — the same year Queen Victoria died — selling clothes, beds, haberdashery and the like. A second store in Windsor will live on for now.
High Hill Brewery and Tap, Walthamstow
We called in for a couple of pints at this wonderful Blackhorse Mile brewery just before it closed at the end of March — savouring one of the last High Hill pale ales to be poured from its taps. The brewery blamed Walthamstow Council for not doing enough to help it stay open, although the council (perhaps unsurprisingly) disagreed. Though there are plenty of other quality breweries in the vicinity, many will agree that High Hill was one of the best.
London Live
"There's such an obvious need for a London-dedicated channel it's crazy one doesn't already exist in the world's most exciting metropolis." The words of Stefano Hatfield, the first editorial director of London Live — the London-centric TV channel owned by Evening Standard owner Evgeny Lebedev which launched on 31 March 2014. In just under a decade, however, London Live had run its course — hardly shocking in a world where internet, rather than live TV, is king. Read our obituary here.
Manze's, Deptford
In its final days, Manze's pie and mash shop — which stood on Deptford High Street for 111 years — was transported back to its glory days; packed with punters and folks nipping in to grab bags of pies to stuff into their freezers. Alas, it was all too late for this historical emporium, which ladled its last liquor in January and left London ever more deficient in the pie house department. We visited for a portion of pie and mash just before it closed.
Mercato Metropolitano (closing soon)
Contemporary eateries are not immune from the scythe; the Caterer reported on the planned demolition of Mercato Metropolitano (MM), one of south London's finest food halls, which occupies the site of an old paper factory in Elephant and Castle. MM — which has occupied the site since 2016, and features an array of delicious food-slingers, and the excellent German Kraft brewery — will soon have to make way for a 44-storey and a 38-storey skyscraper, both containing new homes. The situation's not quite as desperate others on this list though; a new food hall will open nearby, with first right of application to MM's current traders. There's also still a Mercato Mayfair and a Mercato Metropolitano: Wood Wharf for foodies to tuck into.
Osterley Bookshop (closing soon, sort of) UPDATE: NO LONGER CLOSING
"To be blunt the shop is no longer fun. Of course we're sad to say goodbye to all the people who’ve joined in this charade of our accidental making, but we can't now afford to hang around being a decorative local attraction: We've stuff to do!" Osterley's secondhand bookshop inside a ghost station is not closing for the usual reasons, neither is it entirely closing at all. Its owners Tony and Pennie (the later a world renowned rock photographer: she took the photo on the front of the Clash's London Calling album) have decided to pivot from running the space as a bookshop to an art gallery. No doubt it'll still remain a charming west London attraction. In the meantime, you can find discounted books here until the end of 2025.
Partridges, Chelsea
For over half a century, Partridges peddled posh groceries to the people of Chelsea and beyond from its Duke of York Square premises, but that all changed in February 2025, when it ceased operations. If you're wondering where to stock up on high end chocolates, biscuits and other such hamper-fillers this Christmas, however, don't fret; Partridges' Gloucester Road store continues apace, while the brand still appears at the weekly market in Duke of York Square. There's an online shop too. Go show some love.
Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, Swiss Cottage
After almost 200 years trading from the same site, the Swiss Cottage pub — which gives the nearby Tube station its name — poured its last pint on Saturday 1 February, its future altogether up in the air. It's a blow for London's historical pub lovers, although there is hope that the unlisted building will be saved from any potential development, thanks to a petition to secure it Asset of Community Value (ACV) status.
South London Press
It's never a happy thing to see a fellow London publication go out of business — and South London Press had weathered plenty in its time; indeed when it first published, Abraham Lincoln was still alive and kicking. In recent years, the paper really struggled, at one point even entering a media partnership with Millwall FC. In all, it lasted 160 years.
Wimbledon line judges
Something strange happened during the first match of this summer's Wimbledon matches. A line judge's cry of 'FAULT!' sounded strangely loud. The second time is sounded not just strangely loud, but oddly similar to the previous call. And then the next and the next and the next. Then we realised: the line judges — with their Alan Partridge getup and heads-shoulders-knees-and-toes postures — have been scrapped, in favour of electronic line calling (ELC). Even worse, ELC wasted no time in screwing up. Is nothing sacred? Where are we going to get our schadenfreude hit of watching line middle aged blokes get struck in the unmentionables now? This whole decision is one big FAULT. Replay the point, please.
BrewDog, Shoreditch, Camden and Shepherd's Bush
Though the craft beer scene has, dare we say, grown up since BrewDog planted its flag on the London scene many moons ago, all three of the scrapped branches that closed this July (Shoreditch, Camden and Shepherd's Bush) hold fond memories (some of them admittedly fuzzy) for us, and we're sad to see them shut. Still, none of them featured an indoor slide, so they had to go.
Claude Bosi at Bibendum, South Kensington
There was no other restaurant in London like Claude Bosi in South Kensington — not least because it had the most comically exquisite stained glass anywhere, featuring Bibendum — aka the Michelin Man — chuffing on a Cuban while pedalling away on the old velo. By all accounts (not ours, we couldn't afford it), the food at Claude Bosi and its accompanying oyster bar was also knockout. Said Bosi and his wife Lucy in a joint statement: "Despite our very best efforts, we were unable to reach a resolution with our partners and landlords that would allow Michelin House to move into its next chapter...It has been an honour to be part of the Michelin House story, and a privilege to share that journey with you."
Morleys, Tooting
Nowt to do with fried chicken, Morleys Tooting traded as a department store (yes, ANOTHER department store) for 70-odd years before ringing its last item through the till at the end of October. Despite strong local opposition, it's now set to become a hotel. At least the other Morleys in Brixton (plus sister store Elys Wimbledon) continue to trade.
Throwley Road Cinema, Sutton
The latest closure of a Really Local Group setup, Throwley Yard Cinema promised so much — including 'Knitflix and Chill' evenings, where you could do your knitting while watching a movie. "I am disappointed that this independent cinema did not work," said Councillor Barry Lewis.
Other notable losses in 2025
- Two Brewers, Croydon: the Shepherd Neame pub closed in January.
- Catford Constitutional: the second incarnation of this venue closed early on in the year, although it's since been replaced with '21st century social club' The Catford House.
- The Five Fields, Chelsea: 12 years of Michelin-starred cuisine came to an end in February.
- Forza Win, Camberwell: the much-loved Italian restaurant shuttered in February, but is survived by the almost-but-not-quite-identical-sounding Forza Wine.
- The Gun, Homerton: the "increasing costs of running a hospitality business in the current financial climate" put paid to this east London boozer known for its live music and kitchen residencies. Time Out UK editor-in-chief Joe Mackertich said: "Losing it is a big deal."
- Hakkasan Hanway Place, Fitzrovia: the OG Hakkasan shut up shop in February, but is survived by Hakkasan Mayfair.
- TT, Shoreditch: formerly known as TT Liquor, the decade-old cocktail joint closed in February, much to many folks' shock.
- Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston and Seven Dials both kicked the (family) bucket in May, although three London outposts remain.
- Established in 2005, the Ping Pong chain of dim dum restaurants called it a day in the summer.
- For those who appreciate Belgian brews, the loss of grand cafe-style Lowlander was a big blow to a London scene with surprisingly few Belgian-dedicated bars.
- One of La Cage Imaginaire's last acts was to appear in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, before the Hampstead restaurant, which had been open for half a century, shut up shop.
For more restaurant closures from 2025, check out Hot Dinners' list.
We'll be running another of these articles for 2026. Email [email protected] with any major losses to the London scene.
