Patisserie Valerie Leeds: Cafe chain announces permanent closure of its last remaining site in city

Patisserie Valerie on Albion Street permanently shut on January 1, with a notice in the site's window confirming the closure.

The letter read: "This store will be closing as of Monday 1st January 2024. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The high street cafe and cake chain has now listed its Leeds site as permanently closed on Google. Patisserie Valerie was known for its offering of afternoon tea, breakfast items and cakes and had a 4 star-rating on Google from 466 reviews.

A spokesperson for Patisserie Valerie said: "As you will appreciate, the retail food landscape is dynamic and ever changing. 

"Our brand, product and service continue to thrive both on the high street and online.  In order to ensure that this remains so to the future, we have made the decision to undertake this restructure now, to put the focus and resource of the business where we see the potential for continued, profitable growth."

In 2019, the chain announced the closures of its two other sites in Leeds - in White Rose Shopping Centre and St Pauls Street - after it collapsed in controversial circumstances.

The firm was forced to call in administrators and was saved from closure that year by a management buyout backed by Irish private equity firm Causeway Capital Partners. Only a few dozen cafes across the UK remained, while its cakes were available at some supermarkets.

The spokesperson added: "We have created strong templates for growth in our refurbished patisseries and the opening of our flagship store in Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, in 2023. Alongside this, a large and growing customer base enjoy our handmade patisserie, celebration cakes and afternoon tea at home through our online platform and the curated range available in our retail partner, Sainsburys.  All of this is made possible by continued investment in our original bakery in Birmingham, which remains the cornerstone of our multi-channel handmade patisserie offer."