Beloved East Belfast Coffee and Doughnut Shop Set to Close Just Before Christmas

The East Belfast community has been taken aback by the unexpected announcement of the closure of the popular coffee shop Guilt Trip Coffee + Donuts. The announcement was made via the social media platform Instagram by the store’s new owner, Ben Hamilton. Founded in 2017 by former rugby players Callum Black and Darren Cave, the closure of the shop has come as a surprise to its loyal customer base.

Guilt Trip Coffee + Donuts will be opening its doors for a limited number of days for “goodbye pop-up sales” leading up to Christmas, with the final closure scheduled for December 23. The new owner expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to take on ownership of the popular establishment and hinted at a potential refresh and rebrand in the new year.

The decision to close the last store in the Guilt Trip chain was not accompanied by an explanation, leaving many supporters bewildered by the sudden revelations. Hamilton, who was previously part of the management team, also shared his excitement about continuing to provide the local community with delicious coffee and a space to connect, indicating that he would remain a part of the coffee scene in Belfast.

The closure of Guilt Trip Coffee + Donuts marks the end of an era for the beloved brand, which experienced rapid expansion since its inception, growing to nine stores by 2022, including locations in England. Unfortunately, the business has since undergone a significant reduction, leaving only the East Belfast store in operation. It was also revealed that the England stores would continue to operate under different ownership despite the closure of the original shop.

This announcement adds to the recent trend of coffee shop closures in the Belfast area, including the impending closure of the Botanic Avenue store of global coffee giant Starbucks, as well as the shutdown of independent brands District in the Ormeau Road and Cafe Gaga on the Lisburn Road. The news of Guilt Trip Coffee + Donuts’ closure has left many members of the community reminiscing about the impact of the local favorite and eagerly anticipating the potential plans for a new beginning under the shop’s upcoming rebrand.