News

Greggs stores across UK closed due to technical issue, affecting morning trade

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2024

CUSTOMERS looking to start their day with coffee and breakfast from Greggs were left disappointed as stores across the country remained shut. The popular bakery chain experienced widespread closures due to a technical glitch that prevented shops from accepting payments. The issue was first reported by customers on social media, who found their local stores closed unexpectedly.

In Newcastle, a city known for its numerous Greggs outlets, all stores were reported to be closed. One regular customer expressed their frustration, saying, “I can’t believe it – I have one every morning but not today.” Despite the closures, Greggs has been attempting to maintain service through delivery options where possible. Some stores have placed signs in their windows, indicating that they will remain closed until the payment issue is resolved.

A spokesperson for Greggs confirmed the problem, stating, “We are currently experiencing issues accepting payments in our shops. We are working to resolve this as soon as possible.” The exact number of affected stores is not clear, but reports suggest that some locations are still operating normally.

This incident adds to a series of recent technical problems that have hit some of the UK’s biggest food retailers. Sainsbury’s experienced difficulties with online grocery deliveries and contactless payments in stores last Saturday due to an overnight software update. Tesco and McDonald’s have also faced unrelated technical issues, affecting orders and service.

As the situation develops, Greggs has promised to provide updates. Customers are advised to check social media and local store notices for the latest information.

GREGGS customers across the UK, including in Pembrokeshire, found themselves bereft of their morning sustenance as a slew of the beloved bakery’s outlets failed to open their doors today.

The high street staple, renowned for its piping hot coffee and hearty breakfast offerings, has left customers bewildered and disappointed, sparking an immediate flurry of concern on social media platforms.

Eyewitness accounts and digital laments tell a similar tale of confusion and caffeine-deprived frustration.

Many loyal patrons, accustomed to kickstarting their day with a visit to their local Greggs, were greeted instead by closed shutters and apology-laden notices.

The sudden closure has been attributed to a pervasive technical glitch affecting the chain’s ability to process payments, casting a shadow over morning routines nationwide.

The epicentre of this unexpected shutdown appears to be Newcastle, a city synonymous with the Greggs brand, where all outlets have reportedly ceased operation for the day. One disconsolate customer shared their dismay, “I can’t believe it – I have one every morning but not today.” Despite the inconvenience, some customers are exploring alternative avenues to obtain their Greggs fix, with delivery services reportedly still in operation.

Storefronts across the affected areas have been hastily adorned with signs informing customers of the temporary closure, assuring that efforts are underway to rectify the issue posthaste. A spokesperson for Greggs has publicly acknowledged the predicament, stating, “We are currently experiencing issues accepting payments in our shops. We are working to resolve this as soon as possible.”

As this story develops, the exact scale of the disruption remains unclear. Reports indicate that while many branches are impacted by the payment processing debacle, a select few are continuing to operate as usual. This latest hiccup for Greggs adds to a growing list of technical failures that have plagued some of the UK’s most prominent food and retail brands in recent times.

Only days prior, Sainsbury’s was compelled to announce that a significant portion of its online grocery delivery services had been halted due to complications arising from an overnight software update—a malaise that also affected in-store contactless transactions. Similarly, Tesco and McDonald’s have found themselves wrestling with their own unrelated technological quandaries, leading to service interruptions and customer inconvenience.

As the Greggs saga unfolds, loyal customers and casual patrons alike are left to navigate the inconvenience and hope for a swift resolution. With the promise of updates on the horizon, the nation waits eagerly for the return of its beloved bakery operations, and with it, the restoration of a cherished morning ritual.

News

Control of £547m Local Growth Fund returns to Wales

Published

13 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CONTROL of a £547m Local Growth Fund has been returned to the Welsh Government, with ministers setting out plans to use the money to boost the nation’s economy over the next three years.

During a visit to Ebbw Vale on Friday (Mar 20), First Minister Eluned Morgan is expected to outline details of a new Investment Plan, endorsed by both the Welsh and UK governments. The plan sets out how funding will be allocated across priority areas and within Wales’ four economic regions.

The fund will focus on three key areas: supporting productive and competitive businesses, improving skills and helping people into work, and investing in infrastructure.

Ministers say the programme is designed to empower regional decision-making while targeting areas with the greatest economic need. The aim is to increase productivity, support business growth and create better-paid jobs across Wales.

Funding will be distributed based on tailored regional plans, reflecting local strengths and opportunities, including sectors such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

The First Minister, Eluned Morgan said: “I’m really pleased decisions on this post-EU funding, which is so important in supporting regional and local economic growth in Wales, are being returned to the Welsh Government.

“We want to use all the levers we have to stimulate economic growth, especially in parts of Wales where economic inactivity and unemployment are higher and wages are lower.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans added: “The Local Growth Fund for Wales will help create and secure jobs in key industries, providing exciting opportunities for people to develop high-quality, long-term careers.

“We will work with local government and other partners to ensure the fund is used effectively to create jobs, unlock growth and deliver for Wales.”

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens said: “This transformational funding will create jobs, boost productivity and support economic growth across all parts of Wales.

“Decisions about how funding is used in Wales are best made in Wales, and this agreement delivers our commitment to return control of post-EU funding to Wales.

“It is another example of the UK and Welsh governments working together to deliver for our communities.”

Community

Weather presenter spotted filming in Pembrokeshire

Published

16 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WELL-KNOWN Welsh weather presenter was spotted in Pembrokeshire as he filmed scenes for a new series celebrating the county’s coastline.

Derek Brockway, who has been a familiar face on BBC Wales since 1995, was in St Davids recently working on another instalment of his popular walking series along the Pembrokeshire Coast.

Local resident Thomas Tudor said it was “lovely” to meet the broadcaster during filming, posing for a photograph alongside his mother, Beryl Tudor, and sister, Bethan Thomas Price.

Brockway, who is based at BBC Cymru Wales in Cardiff, is widely known not only for his weather forecasts across television, radio and online, but also for his programmes showcasing Wales’ landscapes and coastal paths.

The latest filming in St Davids is expected to form part of an upcoming series highlighting the natural beauty and walking routes of Pembrokeshire, an area long regarded as one of the jewels in Wales’ tourism crown.

Ministry of Defence

Defence families in Wales to save up to £6,000 under new childcare scheme

Published

16 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MAJOR new childcare support scheme for Armed Forces families will be rolled out across Wales from September 2026, the UK Government has announced.

The initiative is expected to save eligible families up to £6,000 per child each year, providing a significant boost to household finances amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

The scheme will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement system and will bring Wales in line with the level of support already available to forces families in England.

Today, 19/03/2026 The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey visited Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, home to 3rd Battalion the Rifles. He met with families to launch a new scheme for Defence Families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministers say the move is part of a wider effort to improve recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces, with childcare costs identified as a key pressure affecting morale.

The new support will cover children from nine months old until they reach three years of age in Wales and Scotland, and up to four years old in Northern Ireland.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP announced the scheme during a visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.

He said: “Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. As the demands on defence increase, it is right that we step up our support for those who serve.

“This offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, wherever they are posted.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “Service families in Wales make huge sacrifices and deserve the best possible support.

“They contribute not only to our national security but also to the Welsh economy. This scheme delivers meaningful help with the cost of childcare.”

The scheme will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs for eligible working families. To qualify, both parents must be in employment and meet the income thresholds required for a Tax-Free Childcare account.

Hundreds of families across Wales are expected to benefit.

The announcement forms part of a broader package of support introduced since July 2024, including improved military housing, the largest Armed Forces pay rise in two decades, and plans to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant in law.

Further details will be provided in the coming months, with families encouraged to begin considering childcare arrangements ahead of the scheme’s launch.