Coughlans RIP

Earlier this year, after mapping Wenzel's bakeries in North London, I wrote "I really should draw some Coughlans maps one day." Alas I'm too late, they ceased trading on Tuesday. Coughlans were a family bakery chain based mostly in south London and Surrey. The founder was Jack Coughlan who opened a single shop in Thornton Heath way back in 1937, so they haven't quite reached their 90th anniversary. Here's the store in Wallington with its comfortingly brown frontage, but alas no queues for bread because the shelves are now empty. Coughlans were a proper bakery pitched between the elite flakery of Gail's and the mass-produced churn of Greggs. They served up loaves and crusty rolls, also gingerbread men and eccles cakes. Yes you could walk out with a sourdough toastie and a Chocolate Lotus Biscoff Cupcake but alternatively a hot bacon roll and a slice of bread pudding, which was all bases covered. Coughlans were also proud of baking their own, indeed "At 2am this morning our bread was…