For every fresh, exciting venture that springs up, London seems to shed an old favourite. Once again, it's time to cue the melancholy piano for our list of places that closed down in 2025. We'll update this as the year goes on.
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 leave 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 stop 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 — has gone into liquidation. It might not quite be last order yet, though: a "Cronxortium" of four local investors means the brewery may yet rise from the ashes. Hold that thought.
Daniel of Ealing (closing soon)
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. At time of writing it remains open, although final clearance sales indicate that Daniel is not long for west London. 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 with this. Though there are plenty of other great 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, though, London Live had run its course — unsurprisingly, perhaps, 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 even 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)
"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 huge 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.
Other notable losses in 2025
- Two Brewers, Croydon: the Shepherd Neame pub closed in January.
- Catford Constitutional: this pub was the fourth prominent venue in two years to close in Catford.
- 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 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.
Anything major we've missed? Although we can't keep track of every single establishment that's closed in 2025, we'd like to know about any major blows to the London scene. Email [email protected]
