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?

Agree that like a lot of places that have expanded aggressively the quality has nosedived - Patisserie Valerie is another example.

I use our independent bakery for preference as it's both nice and cheaper, but it's only open three days a week, so I still do very occasionally call in to Gail's for bread. I'm quite weirded out by the design choices for the eat in areas - they feel very plasticky/McDonaldsy to me, which I'm sure can't be the vibe they're after.

Meant to quote this post in my post above which I’ve now deleted : Yeah you’re not the only one!
I’m the same - agree with concerns about the openness of the food. It’s why as I said upthread, I prefer to go first thing in the morning when I assume the pastries have just been put out

Yep? And M&S, also the pastry section at my local Sainsburys, Asda and Coop. So fairly common practice. But for some reason Gail’s is under the microscope and being pulled apart on this thread.

I wonder why??? 🤔

combatantisemitism.org/cam-news/new-north-london-branch-of-gails-bakery-vandalized-by-anti-israel-protesters/

Because we are talking about Gail’s here. Because that’s the topic of the thread. That’s why!

Why would we be “pulling apart” M&S etc?

And i am someone who goes to Gail’s btw before you suggest I have some kind of hidden agenda against it 🙄

FTR I don’t buy stuff from M&S or any other supermarkets that are left open. I make an allowance for Gails because I love their cinnamon buns but even then I don’t go all the time and try to go early before it’s been exposed to many customers.

There are plenty of other bakery stuff one can get from M&S that are packaged/covered.

The spinach rolls and the cheese and potato squares with onion and spinach are very nice.

There is a thread running about open bakery displays in M and S at the moment.
You are persistently trying to look for something that I don’t think exists for the majority on this thread. Gail’s is an expensive bakery that disappoints many. That’s it for most people I am guessing. People are allowed to complain about obscenely expensive baked goods that aren’t always worth the money surely? Gail’s is an expanding chain so more people are now trying it and having opinions.

It's owned by private equity, that's why it's so expensive. The same private equity company that ruined Druckers and Patisserie Valerie. I used to love Druckers - then the prices went up and standards went down. Then it went bankrupt.

Oh strange, all the ones around me do have the cakes etc behind a glass screen. The bread is open, but on the back wall behind the counter so no customers are able to touch it.

The coffee is meh
There's no vegan cakes so I can't eat there
It's horrifically overpriced

We have one in our town but I don't go there, we have much better coffee shops and bakeries.

I am curious - how high is your glass screen? I will check next time I go past it, but I think there may be a very small screen around the pastries in mine but it’s only a few inches high!

More like an edge to make sure the pastries don’t fall over rather than a proper barrier so yeah effectively it’s very exposed to everyone.

I can’t remember where their bread is since I’ve never bought it but their pastries are definitely at the front and more or less uncovered!

That's not saying much though! I haven't been in Gail's Bakery, none near me, but it sounds like a few other names, a decent enough product with good PR to promote itself to those who like to be seen to buy the current pricey fad.

When I brought my DD a very small penguin shaped children's biscuit at Christmas time for £3.50 I refused to visit Gail's again. It was no bigger then a digestive biscuit.

One of our local London Cafe Neros has little flies buzzing over the raspberry croissants in the open display. Yum ;-)

I can get one down me no problem 😁

There are thousands and thousands of bakery businesses in the UK at the moment. And Gail’s just happens to be the focus of this thread, and you’re telling me it’s by sheer coincidence? Sorry, I’m not buying it.

Same 😆🤣 always!

I remember one of the original Gail's bakeries in Notting Hill, back when there were only a handful. It was completely divine. To this day the tastiest savoury pastry I've ever had has been from there.

It was bought by private equity back in 2021 and has been aggressively expanding since then. The quality is fine -- you can still get some nice-ish cakes and things but it's basically a more expensive pret these days.

You should always stop frequenting places once private equity gets involved. They just chase aggressive growth, bring the quality down and the prices up.

I live in a city with so many good independents, and they are not tucked away. The Gails has outdoor seating next to some really grim wheeley bins up an alley which drunk people are sick in. The whole place just looks a bit grubby, like they didn't think through where they were putting it.

They are so ridiculous about toast!!! No you can’t have toast with soup, you can have cold bread and butter. Er, sorry, is this the 1990s? Also the baked eggs always look as if they’ve been in the oven for ten days, the salads are terrible compared to pret and would it kill them to do a kids sandwich?! I admit I do like the Parmesan chicken thing though, and the yoghurt/ overnight oats things, and they do a nice matcha

Most overrated place in the universe. Overpriced and underwhelming. We have one in our area and I just boycott it on principle because it’s shit.

Yes I think it's kinda obvious why of all the bakeries in all the UK, Gail's is the one getting special treatment from a critical OP.

Sure that's the only reason you boycott it @Piglet89 ?

Seems quite extreme to suggest it's the most overrated place in the universe.

Most people who don't like it are content with labelling it overpriced/not great.

I’ve only been once .
we don’t have one in our town or the nearby city .
the chicken and tarragon pastry was extremely good and I had an iced coffee which was also good

Their porridge is minging.