Bakery in 'gay cake' row closes branch in Belfast city centre

'It simply comes down to the figures,' owner says

A bakery company at the centre of the so called "gay cake" court case, is to close a branch in Belfast.

Ashers made headlines around the world when the owners' refusal to make a cake promoting same-sex marriage

A legal action was originally brought by gay rights activist Gareth Lee, who claimed he had been discriminated against when the firm refused to make him a cake iced with the slogan "Support Gay Marriage".

Mr Lee initially won his case in the county court and then at the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal, but the McArthurs then challenged those rulings at a Supreme Court hearing in Belfast in May, where it was cleared of discrimination.

The court ruled in favour of the owners and said that "nobody should be forced to have or express a political opinion in which he does not believe".

The firm said it store on Royal Avenue, in Belfast's city centre, is closing because it is not busy enough.

A major fire at a nearby Primark clothing store in August destroyed a listed building and its aftermath has devastated trade in the local area.

Engineers are carrying out inspections at the site and have erected a safety cordon around it, leaving the main thoroughfare of the city blocked to pedestrians and cars.

The cordon has had significant impact on footfall, though extra funding is in place to help the businesses affected.

"It simply comes down to the figures," Daniel McArthur, general manager of the Ashers store in Belfast, said. "We decided not to renew the lease. Belfast city centre isn't busy enough - our other shops are much busier. It's been planned for some time and I am pleased to say there will be no job losses."

Additional reporting by Press Association