Greggs extends temporary store closures during UK heat emergency

Greggs extended the temporary closure of 11 UK stores after the Met Office red heat warning remained in force during the late-June heatwave.

The chain said the move was intended to protect customers and colleagues as record or near-record temperatures continued to affect parts of the country.

Chronology

Greggs first shut the stores on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25, 2026, as hot weather intensified. Reporting at the time said the company expected the affected branches to reopen on Friday, June 26.

The closures were then extended when the red warning was still active, with reporting on Friday confirming that the 11 stores would remain shut for longer.

Named locations in the reporting include Leicester Square in London, along with branches in Wolverhampton, Barnet, Northampton, Luton, Gosport, Trowbridge and Dudley.

Safety move during heat emergency

Greggs said the temporary closures were a precautionary step to protect staff and customers during severe hot weather.

The decision came as the heatwave caused wider disruption across the UK, including school closures and changes at some tourist attractions and other businesses.

The Met Office warning was rare and came amid reports of record June heat in parts of the country.

What happens next

The main uncertainty is when each affected store will reopen. Reporting on the closure extension was not fully consistent on the exact end date, with some coverage indicating a likely reopening later in the week and other reporting pointing to easing conditions by Sunday, June 28.

For now, the key point is that Greggs kept the 11 branches shut while the heat emergency continued.