Popular Edinburgh bakery The Bearded Baker announces shock Christmas Eve closure
The Bearded Baker's owner Rowan Walker blamed the closure on tight margins and shifting priorities
An Edinburgh bakery is to close its doors on Christmas Eve after almost a decade due to margins being “squeezed to near impossibility”.
Rowan Walker, owner of The Bearded Baker, announced the closure of his Rodney Street bakery and nearby bagel shop, Seventy One Steps, on Monday.
The small independent business has become a staple of the Canonmills neighbourhood, but Mr Walker said running the bakery in the current economic climate risked having a detrimental effect on his family life.
He said: “Times are tough - as tough as they’ve ever been. Our margins are being squeezed to near impossibility to make any sort of decent profit. Working seven days a week, as we did when I was 24, is just not an option anymore without having a detrimental effect on our family. Our priorities over time have shifted, and family is top.”
Mr Walker started the business making bagels out of his family kitchen before opening the bakery in 2017 to provide much-needed commercial kitchen space for its growing wholesale operation. The location, he said, “just so happened” to come with a little cafe.
He explained in the post that the family-run business quickly had to scale back their whole sale efforts after eager customers made them “so damn busy”.
It has since become one of the city’s most well-known bakeries and was even recently visited by master-baker Paul Hollywood on his trip to the Capital.
Mr Walker said: “I’ve gone from a fresh(ish) faced 24 year old to a married with two kids living in the countryside greying 34 year old. Covid, serving from the door, the queue up the road when we reopened (which remains one of my best memories), moving bakeries (twice) and opening our second site 71 steps down the road - we’ve certainly kept busy, with the help of some incredible staff past and present. As such, there’s only so much time we can commit to the business. “
“We’re sad that our time here in Canonmills is nearly over, but we’re very happy that it happened.”
Other bakery owners were quick to share their sympathies with the small business.
Fellow Rodney Street cafe Hata said: "So sad to hear this news, you’ve been the loveliest of neighbours to us.
"We’ll miss you incredibly here in Canonmills. Wish you all the very best for whatever comes next for you."
Leith Walk's Babyfaced Baker said: "Absolutely gutted to read this man! What you’ve built in the last 10 years is nothing short of bloody incredible.
"You helped me so much when I started out too and for that, I will be forever grateful. Really pleased you’re doing what’s best for you and your family."
The bakery remains open until Christmas Eve and is encouraging customers to come along for “one last bun, bagel and/or doughnut".