Croydon café closes after 12 years of operation

A café in Croydon has closed after 12 years of trading. The Tram Stop, on Lower Addiscombe Road, served its last customers on Sunday, August 2. The owners announced the closure on social media and said that rising costs made it impossible to continue. Many customers were upset by the news. Independent cafés across the UK have faced growing financial pressure in recent years, and some have been forced to shut because running costs have become too high. The Tram Stop had been a familiar part of the local area for over a decade, so its closure came as a disappointment to the community. It is one of many small hospitality businesses that have struggled to survive in London's expensive commercial environment.