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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the bakes in Greggs etc should be warm/hot?

94 replies

BobbyBiscuits · 01/02/2024 00:08

I had not been to Greggs for many years till today, but maybe I missed something. There are cabinets that look like heated ones with the pastries etc. But they are not heated and the blimming thing was cold, like a stodgy rock. I can't imagine running a pasty shop that didn't heat them up. They won't even put it back in the oven...In a microwave is not an option. I'm traumatised. In Sains the pasties are in a hot cabinet?

AIBU or are all shops that sell this stuff like that?
Or this Greggs just blows cos it's in a really shitty area/ I'm a twat and should shut the front door..lol

OP posts:
candyfloss100 · 01/02/2024 00:12

They do it for tax reasons. Hot food incurs an extra tax whereas food that has cooled down and doesn't get reheated doesn't. Something like that.

bertieb7 · 01/02/2024 00:14

I thought it was a well know part of their business model for tax purposes - they don't heat food so if you get something warm it's because it's recently out of the oven

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 01/02/2024 00:16

Thank you, I did not know that. What a bunch of tossers, lol! It was 2 quid for a cold pastie? You can buy like 4 frozen/ chilled ones and cook it at home for that price. I'm not going back, haha.

OP posts:
ReadingSoManyThreads · 01/02/2024 00:17

As others have said, it's for tax reasons & how they can keep prices low. Why don't you do what I do? I ask first if they are "still warm", they let me know if they are or not. I'll only get one if it's still warm! So just ask next time.

Babymamamama · 01/02/2024 00:18

I don’t buy them too often (as I prefer a pret baguette tbh) but if I did I would ask first which one is hot as that is an indication it’s the freshest out of the oven.

Deathbyfluffy · 01/02/2024 00:19

BobbyBiscuits · 01/02/2024 00:16

Thank you, I did not know that. What a bunch of tossers, lol! It was 2 quid for a cold pastie? You can buy like 4 frozen/ chilled ones and cook it at home for that price. I'm not going back, haha.

I’m sure they’ll be devastated.

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 01/02/2024 00:20

Thanks folks, yeah it was my first time there for years and kind of a panic purchase. If it's it's not hot then don't get. I guess they might tell me when they take them out the ovens.
Can anyone tell me the best bake in there? I got the chicken one, hard to judge as cold etc. I eat meat and love veg etc.

OP posts:
Babymamamama · 01/02/2024 00:23

My only go to one is the Christmas bake but it has to be piping hot and sadly now off menu till next Xmas. Nothing else draws me in there it’s all quite stodgy but I guess that’s the point.

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 01/02/2024 00:23

@Deathbyfluffy Haha. Thanks for that. Yeah, Mrs one pastie every 15 years..I can imagine the CEO is needing extra psychotherapy sessions. haha.
I do like them but only warm. I'm trying to navigate the relationship! : )

OP posts:
ReadingSoManyThreads · 01/02/2024 00:33

I'll only have the chicken bake, to be honest, I can tolerate it luke warm still. If it was stone-cold, then no.

TotHappy · 01/02/2024 00:36

I have never seen a Greggs here in Cornwall and all the pasties at bakeries are still warm - tbh I just assumed the government had scrapped the Pasty tax because of all the kickback against it but I guess it is one of the reasons pasties are so crazy expensive now! I just assumed it was the price of beef...

Lorac23 · 01/02/2024 00:37

Don't blame Greggs, it's the Tory pasty tax, introduced round about 2012 to 2013....

Original poster
BobbyBiscuits · 01/02/2024 00:42

@Lorac23 I shall fully blame the tories. I think I remember some PR guff where Cameron had to pretend he'd eaten a pastie at a trains station...Must have been that. I'm so late. Sorry. lol

OP posts:
ADoggyDogWorld · 01/02/2024 00:48

TotHappy · 01/02/2024 00:36

I have never seen a Greggs here in Cornwall and all the pasties at bakeries are still warm - tbh I just assumed the government had scrapped the Pasty tax because of all the kickback against it but I guess it is one of the reasons pasties are so crazy expensive now! I just assumed it was the price of beef...

Oh god now I want a Malcolm Barnecott or a Philps pasty. Wail!

blackoverbillsmothers · 01/02/2024 00:52

Their beef and vegetable pasty is my favourite but I always ask if it’s warm. Usually it isn’t so I don’t buy anything. Not available in all branches either.

Fionaville · 01/02/2024 01:05

I do like a Greggs cheese and onion bake, but not when it's cold. I always ask if they're still hot first. If there's only a couple left, it's a good indication that they've been sat there for a while (if it's not peak time)

TotHappy · 01/02/2024 23:07

ADoggyDogWorld · 01/02/2024 00:48

Oh god now I want a Malcolm Barnecott or a Philps pasty. Wail!

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Both are available within a mile of me. Along with 3 or 4 other names. And all of them piping hot! 😋

Sooty20235 · 01/02/2024 23:11

I Wondered why the one Greggs I ever had was cold! I was so disappointed as it does look like they are in a warm cabinet.
are people really happy to eat cold pasty things? People really actually buy them?!?!

Deathbyathousandcats · 01/02/2024 23:13

I love their tandoori chicken baguettes

nadine90 · 01/02/2024 23:22

I worked at greggs in 2007 and we didn’t warm pasties up then either. I never asked why. The worst part of that job was counting all of the food that had to be chucked at night. If staff wanted any of it, they’d have to buy it. If you didn’t buy it, it went in the bin!
I don’t mind a cold sausage roll though

OneTC · 01/02/2024 23:25

It's up to you to time it well unfortunately, or go to a really busy one like in London bridge station where they sell fast so they're always hot

OneTC · 01/02/2024 23:29

BobbyBiscuits · 01/02/2024 00:20

Thanks folks, yeah it was my first time there for years and kind of a panic purchase. If it's it's not hot then don't get. I guess they might tell me when they take them out the ovens.
Can anyone tell me the best bake in there? I got the chicken one, hard to judge as cold etc. I eat meat and love veg etc.

1/ steak bake with ketchup smeared on
2/ sausage bean and cheese (must be really hot or it's awful)
3/ the weird pasty thing, with ketchup, can just about be eaten cold in an emergency

ADoggyDogWorld · 01/02/2024 23:33

TotHappy · 01/02/2024 23:07

Both are available within a mile of me. Along with 3 or 4 other names. And all of them piping hot! 😋

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oh you lucky thing! Have one - from whichever shop - for me on Saturday. nom nom nom.

ADoggyDogWorld · 01/02/2024 23:35

TotHappy · 01/02/2024 23:07

Both are available within a mile of me. Along with 3 or 4 other names. And all of them piping hot! 😋

Show quote history

And then get a hedgehog icecream from the cabin at Swanpool.

I miss Cornwall so much.

YoureALizardHarry11 · 01/02/2024 23:35

I thought the pasty tax was mooted a good few years ago but abandoned because there was public resistance? I didn’t realise it was a thing! I’ve had a pasty from 2-3 different brand bakeries since then and non have been cold and I didn’t have to ask either.