Greggs temporarily closes 11 UK stores during red heat warning

Greggs has temporarily closed 11 UK stores for two days as a rare red extreme-heat warning grips parts of the UK, in what appears to be one of the clearest consumer-facing responses yet to the heatwave.

The closures are understood to run across Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25, 2026, with reopening expected on Friday, June 26. Greggs said the move was intended to protect staff and customers as temperatures climbed during the Met Office warning.

Reported affected branches include the company’s Leicester Square store in central London, along with stores in Wolverhampton, Luton, Gosport, Trowbridge, Northampton and Barnet.

Why Greggs closed the stores

The decision comes as the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat, describing conditions as exceptional and potentially dangerous. Forecast temperatures were said to be around 38C to 40C, with forecasters warning of a risk to life in the hottest areas.

Greggs’ closures follow broader disruption across the UK as the heatwave spreads through transport, schools and other public services.

Timing and reopening

According to reporting, a customer email announcing the temporary closures was sent around 9 a.m. on June 24. Later that day, media coverage confirmed the 11-store shutdown and the planned two-day timetable.

The company has indicated the branches should reopen on Friday, June 26, assuming conditions allow.

Wider impact

The move highlights how extreme weather is now affecting day-to-day retail operations, not just public infrastructure. For customers, the impact is immediate: selected branches are closed, and normal service is paused while the warning remains in force.

For staff, the closures reflect a safety-first response to temperatures that have already forced wider adjustments across the country.

Greggs has not, in the available reporting, publicly detailed a full store-by-store list beyond the branches identified in coverage.