Gail’s Bakery - is it really all that?

[BarrellChested]

When a Gail’s Bakery opened within walking distance of the office where I worked, people could barely contain their excitement. It felt like something magical had been bestowed on us, and I maybe got caught up in the hype.

I was aware of Gail’s before, of course, but had never been to one.

The great day arrived - a few of us went over and it was…… fine. Nice coffee and a decent enough pastry. But nothing beyond what I’ve had at the myriad of other coffee shops in the area.

Yet still my colleagues talk about it in reverential tones. So maybe it’s just me that doesn’t get it.

AIBU?

I do like a few things in Gails. For me, I like that their sweet things aren't overly sweet. Their blueberry muffins are lovely as they've got a slight sourness. Their dark hot chocolate (and milk) is very delicious. My husband loves their cinnamon buns and he usually hates pastries! I've always found their staff lovely too.

Nice Gail's near where i do my shopping - i like their proper pots of tea, the coffee is ok, but overall it is very expensive. However, they have nice outdoor seating plus a decent usually clean toilet, so i do use it occasionally. I would use Greggs more often as their coffee is ok for the price, i love the vegan rolls and lemon muffins, very affordable but they don't have outdoor seating which puts me off. Indoor seating is also very cramped and not always very clean. The Gails is always clean and tidy so i guess they have higher staffing costs.

It's a chain. It's like Leon or Honest Burger - basically 'Jamie's Bakery'.

Near me in E London there are about 5 independent 'artisan' bakeries (shoot me) which as much as I roll my eyes could eat the local Gail's for breakfast in terms of the interestingness and quality of the food.

But all the 'creative industries' ie marketing executive millennials who now live here prefer to take their babies to throw croissants on the floor at Gail's.

First I’ve ever heard of a Gail’s bakery. I prefer independent businesses to chains though. My favourite bakeries are one in Kirby Lonsdale and a Chinese bakery in Liverpool china town. Well worth a visit.

Yes I remember this too!
”oooh they’ve got a costa”

im the same, we’ve recently moved and have stayed in the same area for practicalities (Costa and kebab shops). But I do have regrets over not moving to the places with independents

There is a local bakery not far from me that makes absolutely delicious food and it is really reasonably priced (actually fairly cheap even). They have queues that go down the street and round the corner, but you can call ahead and order what you want to be made for a certain day so you just queue and collect your order. It is worth it, in their case.

Our Gail’s does not ever have a queue and is fairly quiet inside 😂

They opened a cafe near me (the bakery is up the posh end of town, known as ‘the village’, we are down near the tube /train station and bigger shops). So as I’ve never been met a friend there and yea, decent enough but nothing special. Much prefer the independent cafe/bakery a few blocks down - their cinnamon rolls are to die for, plus the owner runs it, not some uninterested young person just churning out endless lattes and pre made pastries.

I used to go a bit as it was my DB’s local cafe in Hackney. He saw a rat outside in their garden there, ewww. Then I went to one in Blackheath and was staggered at the price for hot drinks, pastries and orange juice. I did go to one local to me with a friend on Saturday and the tea and cappuccino and cake were very nice.

No, very average coffee and ridiculously overpriced. Just good marketing that's all (& some questionable leadership to boot!) So I no longer go there. Give me Pret or M&S food any day!!!

We have a lot of good cafes in our area (Crystal Palace) but Gail’s always seems busy. My NDN likes it as I think you can get dairy free pastries there or something like that.

Independent doesn’t always equal good value. If the independent place costs more to eat in than Gail’s and the food is on the sane level or a bit worse, I’m heading to Gail’s, or even Caffè Nero. I don’t have the inclination to worry about the decline of independent cafe’s and the like - my bank balance is more important.

Overpriced and, in Newbury at least, nowhere near as good as half-a-dozen non-chain cafes and bakeries in town.

Very much a "second division" place, IMO.

Having said that, the cappuccinos I had at another cafe last week were nicer than the Gail’s one.

I don't really like the chain, not fond of the coffee and everything tastes dry/sandwiches not nice. Guess we all like different things.

The cinnamon buns are nice. My SIL often pops into the one near her office (Farringdon) for a coffee and cake on a Friday afternoon.

Oh this was about Betty’s not Gail’s! I remember the queues for Da Michele in Napoli and I thought meh it’s probably overhyped- it was and we found a much better one round the corner the next day! So you know, usually huge queues mean it isn’t amazing ime. Having said that, I really love italiamo in Oxford and that’s always busy so.. not always the case. This thread is making me hungry!

An independent artisan bakery will usually be better (and a similar price, around here). If you don’t have one of those locally, Gail’s is much better than Starbucks or Costa.

It is expensive and not spectacular, but is reliable. The coffee is fine. The savoury things (salads, sandwiches, soups) are generally better than the pastries, but the scones are indeed amazing (the chocolate and sour cherry ones, and the maple pecan ones). They also just have a very large selection of things - our local bakeries generally only have 6-10 types of cake for sale at any one time, Gail’s has easily 20 different options, and usually more interesting things than the standard carrot cake, brownies, etc.

Cherry and chocolate scone is divine!

Gails are stingy with their ice, but the pastries are nice enough. I prefer Joe and The Juice sandwiches , but not letting a habit form as they are also stupidly expensive and also stingy with ice. Fortunately we have neither locally.

To be fair to Gail’s, you can’t blame Gail’s for there being rats outside! Indoors, absolutely. Outdoors in a garden, unfortunately animals will go wherever they want.

Their pastries are mostly nice, though often overcooked and ridiculously expensive, often more expensive than good local coffee shops.

Some of their bun type products look lovely but in reality are just doughy and boring. I remember buying blueberry buns for my grandchildren when they first opened here, they were glazed and looked great but the dough was just dull and tasteless.

I never buy their bread, overcooked sourdough just makes my mouth sore.

Cheers, will do. We live down south at the mo but next visit to friends in Leeds. Cheers for the tip :-)

In my humble opinion everywhere is better than Starbucks, I don't even like their coffee.

I am not a fan and will choose every cafe before Gail’s. From independents (ideally), to the Costa/Neros to the Wenzel/Greggs chains. But your level of vitriol forwards customers eating at Gail’s is a bit alarming!

Edited.