The US bakery has abruptly shut all 12 of its UK stores, vanishing from the high street just four years after launching.
A popular US bakery is closing all its branches in the UK (Image: Getty)
Cinnabon, the US bakery chain best known for its indulgent cinnamon rolls, has abruptly closed all 12 of its UK outlets, disappearing from the high street just four years after its arrival.
The brand launched in Britain in 2020 with ambitious plans for 150 cafes, opening sites in cities including London, Manchester and Birmingham. At its peak, it operated around 20 UK branches and was once greeted with queues of eager customers sharing their purchases across social media.
12 Cinnabon stores will be shutting (Image: Getty)
However, EG On the Move, the operator which partnered with Cinnabon to establish its UK presence, confirmed it has made the “strategic decision” to shut down all locations.
In a statement, the company said: “EG On the Move has made the strategic decision to close all Cinnabon locations operated in the UK.
This was not a decision taken lightly, but it reflects the strategic shift to focus on our core convenience retail business. This decision aligns with our wider business strategy to focus on areas where we can deliver the greatest value to our customers.”
The closures were carried out with little warning. In some locations, customers were met with handwritten signs on shuttered windows informing them that the cafés had shut with immediate effect from September 1.
Cinnabon UK locations now closed:
- London (multiple sites including Oxford Street and Camden)
- Birmingham
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Newcastle
- Sheffield
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- Nottingham
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Bristol
Cinnabon’s signature menu included its Makara cinnamon rolls topped with cream cheese frosting, alongside Chillatta blended drinks, churros, cookies and iced coffees. While the brand remains popular in the United States, where it operates close to 1,000 outlets, its UK venture struggled to sustain momentum.
Reaction online has been mixed. Some loyal customers expressed disappointment, urging the brand to return, while others suggested that the products were overpriced and too rich for regular consumption.
The withdrawal comes as other US food giants push ahead with UK expansion plans. Wendy’s, which returned in 2021, has set its sights on 400 restaurants.
Chick-fil-A is preparing to open its first permanent British outlets this year, while Popeyes has launched more than 38 branches since 2021. Shake Shack, meanwhile, recently opened its first train station restaurant at London St Pancras.
For now, Cinnabon fans in Britain will have to look abroad, or hope for a future relaunch, to satisfy their sweet tooth.
