The challenge
Following almost 60 years of trading, Merrie England Coffee Shops announced the closure of its seven West Yorkshire cafés in August 2026, bringing an end to a well-known regional brand that had become a familiar part of the local community.
Founded in 1966, Merrie England operated cafés across Huddersfield, Halifax and Brighouse, including an in-house bakery. The business had a long-established customer base, recognised brand and established trading locations, alongside a range of café, catering and bakery equipment.
Following the appointment of joint liquidators, BPI Asset Advisory was instructed to market the business and its assets for sale.
The challenge was to identify a buyer who could recognise the value in the established brand and individual sites, while working within the requirements of a liquidation sale.
The approach
BPI Asset Advisory launched a targeted marketing campaign to generate interest in the Merrie England business and its assets.
The opportunity was presented as more than simply a disposal of café equipment. The marketing highlighted the strength of the established brand, its long trading history, existing locations, trading performance and the opportunity for an incoming operator to continue the legacy of Merrie England.
The business and assets were made available as a whole or as individual or multiple outlets, creating flexibility for prospective buyers.
BPI worked closely with the liquidators and professional advisors throughout the process, managing enquiries, facilitating discussions with interested parties and supporting the transaction through to completion.
The result
Following the marketing campaign, the Merrie England brand and assets were sold to an established coffee shop operator, securing a future for the business and one of its former locations.
The New Hey Road café and drive-thru in Oakes, Huddersfield, was acquired by the Bowley family, owners of Horticentre Garden Centre in Wakefield and its SeedRoom café and bistro.
The acquisition included the Merrie England brand, the lease and the assets of the Oakes site. The new owners plan to invest in modernising the café while retaining many of the features that made Merrie England familiar to its customers.
The café is also set to reopen as a coffee shop and drive-thru, with the new owners planning to retain traditional favourites and explore opportunities to re-employ members of the former team.
The sale means the Oakes site will continue operating as a café under new ownership, preserving an established local venue and creating an opportunity for the Merrie England brand to continue.
Mark Hodgson, BPI Asset Advisory, said:
“Merrie England was a well-established regional brand with a strong heritage, so it was important that we marketed the opportunity in a way that demonstrated the potential beyond the individual physical assets. We were pleased to generate interest from an established operator who could see the value in the brand, location and existing café operation.
“Securing a buyer for the Oakes site means the café has a future and will continue to serve the local community under new ownership. It’s a great example of how effective marketing and close collaboration between the professional advisory teams can help achieve a positive outcome from a challenging situation.”
A successful outcome
For BPI Asset Advisory, the sale demonstrates the value of a well-managed marketing campaign when dealing with complex business and asset disposals.
By positioning Merrie England as an established trading opportunity, rather than simply marketing its physical assets, BPI was able to attract an operator with the experience and ambition to invest in the site and take the business forward.
The transaction was delivered in close collaboration with the liquidators and wider professional advisory team, resulting in a positive outcome for the stakeholders involved and securing a future for the Oakes café.
