Coughlans Bakery, a chain part-owned by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, has ceased trading due to high business rates and increased employers' national insurance contributions. The bakery's sites will be reopened under the name Janes Pantry after being acquired by the new company. 20 shops will reopen with former staff invited to reapply for roles. Janes Pantry currently runs 12 shops in Gloucestershire, employing over 100 staff.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan's former bakery chain, Coughlans Bakery, has been sold to a new business called Janes Pantry. The 89-year-old chain, which had shops in Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, and south London, announced it was closing in June due to high business rates and increased employer national insurance contributions. Janes Pantry plans to reopen 20 of the former Coughlans sites under its own brand, offering jobs to some of the original staff who will be invited to reapply for their positions. The takeover is a positive development for the local economy, as it aims to bring back foot traffic and employment to the high street. Ranganathan, who was part-owner of Coughlans, will not be involved in the new venture, but had previously expressed disappointment at the chain's closure.
Written for “Comedian's Former Bakeries Sold” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 783 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-26
- Published
Bakeries once run by an 89-year-old chain part-owned by comedian Romesh Ranganathan will reopen under a new name after the sites were sold.
asserted
sites → run → name
Coughlans Bakery, which had shops in Kent, Surrey, West Sussex and south London, announced it had ceased trading in June, blaming high business rates and increases in employers' national insurance contributions.
Bakery business Janes Pantry, based in Gloucestershire, said it had acquired a number of Coughlans' shops from the liquidators, and would open 20 shops under its own brand.
Former staff from Coughlans will be invited to reapply for roles at the reopened sites, it added.
asserted
it → have → sites
The bakery said: "Every shop that reopens means jobs restored, a unit back in use and footfall returning to the high street, which we believe serves everyone's interests: ours, theirs and the wider local economy's.
asserted
we → say → interests
"
Other sites within the Coughlan's estate are subject to further discussions, it added.
asserted
it → add → discussions
Crawley-born Ranganathan, who is vegan, initially became involved with the business because of its range of plant-based products, but will not be involved in the new venture.
asserted
who → bear → venture
He previously said he was "gutted" the chain had closed.
asserted
chain → say → ?
Former managing director Sean Coughlan had said increases in employers' national insurance contributions and high business rates "absolutely smashes local business".
asserted
increases → say → business
Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell subsequently defended the change, saying it was needed to "spend more and invest in our public services".
asserted
it → defend → services
Janes Pantry first opened in Gloucester in 1971, and currently runs 12 shops employing more than 100 staff, the bakery said.
asserted
bakery → open → staff
