Gail's Bakery

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Do you have these near you ? Just sat in one - what an utter soulless place !

Lovely pastries but what a hype !

Remind me not to visit again

Overpriced Gregg's is great! The Birmingham one scored a 1 for hygiene recently. They only opened last year I think and had queues out the door but I had a quick look and the pastries looked a bit meh. The outside tables are next to some grim wheeley bins too. There are much better independent places nearby.

Prefer Greggs tbh

Overpriced and underwhelming.

people wouldn’t criticise them if their prices were a bit more reasonable but it’s honestly ridiculous.

Im lucky to have a Pret near my work as an alternative, which seems like an affordable option in comparison.

It’s obviously a slightly different market in terms of food, but the portion sizes are good and you don’t feel like you’ve been robbed, or that you’re unwelcome / just there to buy and go.

I won't go in, we went in there once and the cakes had lots of flies crawling over them. Revolting.

Awful expensive coffee in a canteen type cafe.

When not owned by venture capitalists they were so much better. OK now, although limited ranges, smaller servings, but pricey and a newly opened branch has service with a snarl! Luckily we have a superb local independent, so have access to so much better.

Are their prices that bad? I think it’s pretty good value. It’s better than places like Greggs so you’re going to pay more.

my local Gails replace Royal Bank of Scotland

but we have a local bakery that is independent and bloody delicious, coffee and pastry - so no need to venture into Gails

If I venture to Birmingham - I go to medicine up by the jacuzzi fountain - its hidden away but the pastries there are delicious ( not so keen on medicine in Selfridges)

or just up from the children hospital there is a great coffee shop with cakes Perch

Ours is super expensive, the tables are always dirty and they yell at you across the room to go and fetch your own over-priced coffees! Shame cos the food is good.

Well I was chuffed when I saw we had one opening in Bath - however it’s complete waste of space, very little seated area and you end up queuing in a very tight doorway - it’s perfectly nice pastries and sausage rolls but if I’m honest we have other places here doing at least as nice and cheaper and with much nicer ambience - bit of a waste - I actually find myself missing the place it replaced that did good jacket potatoes, porridge and terrific toasties even if had a bit of a scruffy edge to it

Last year we went into Gail's in Fleet. Looked clean but on closer inspection: The jugs of water were very dirty (not washed up with bits of food on the inside and out), the toilets were super grubby, the staff weren't all that smart and the person making the pastries could have done with a good shower and washed hands! The chairs, benches and tables were either uncomfortable or dirty. This was early afternoon (1.30ish). Have not been in a Gail's since.

I didn't know they did gf stuff - is it cross contamination safe? Bakeries make me nervous but there is a Gails near me which seems popular.

How can Health and Safety allow baked goods in cafes and shops to be uncovered ?
It defies belief!
Flies on the goods, coughs and splutters over them and people picking them up, looking at them and not purchasing them. Yuck

They gave me my hot chocolate in a pot. Without a handle it was too hot to hold.

Faculty in the Picadilly arcade, pretty much opposite Gail's is also great for coffee, cakes and pastries (they never smile at me though!) By the cathedral is the Coffee Bar Collective. Amazing coffee, great food and they smile!

Solihull is my local one but truthfully the coffee and cake is just as nice in John Lewis or Boston Tea Party and cheaper!

The Gail’s in Birmingham only had a 1 star rating for hygiene so 10 foot barge pole comes to mind

Last time I was in one there was a guy on a zoom call on his laptop next to me. The tables were close together and he'd deliberately sat so he was taking up part of the space at my table as well. Then i noticed he was actually drinking a starbucks! I was there 30 mins waiting for a friend and he sat there the whole time yapping on his meeting. He wasn't even a bloody customer!

They are so stupidly expensive too. Much rather go to my local independent bakery.

I was SO excited to go to one on my trip to London in January. I was so disappointed though. The cakes weren't as fabulous as I expected. It was also soulless, just not special at the price. I think my expectations were way too high!

I think I'm spoilt as I live surrounded by independent coffee shops.

Agree with you about Pret, especially their sandwiches - but their prices have crept up a lot in recent years. I also like my coffee in a proper cup, which they don't do. Pret is usually nicer to sit in as well.

I have developed a hatred of Gail’s. It’s massively overpriced, weak cold tea, dry baked goods. Bottled drinks are extortionate. The Harpenden branch toilets were utterly disgusting when I last went there, there was no toilet roll and they absolutely stank. I was shocked. They were also right next to the kitchen with the smell of dirty toilet wafting about. I will never go again.

No we don’t have them here. East Anglia. By the time we get things the trend is well and truly over 😆