Iconic tea room founded by Suffragette blasts ‘impossible’ costs and ‘relentless tax rises’ as it is forced to close after 114 years

The Polly Tearooms in Marlborough, Wiltshire, closed after 114 years, with owner David Clarke saying rising costs made the business unsustainable. Its closure matters locally because the tearoom had become a long-standing High Street fixture and a destination for residents, former pupils and visitors.

Founded in 1912 by suffragette Janet McCloud and her partner Jean Leith Hay, it was associated with famous customers including Cary Grant and the Princess of Wales, who reportedly visited as a schoolgirl. Clarke said he had supported the business from his savings, but the latest Budget brought no sufficient relief from costs including wages and business rates; a notice cited tax rises, minimum wage increases and the cost-of-living crisis.