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?

@Twiglets1are you trying to imply I am somehow antisemitic - based on precisely zero evidence?

The food is overpriced but for a chain they do ok coffee.

This is also true, they refuse to make it with normal milk, it has to be oat, WHY!!

This makes sense. I have only been to one that opened in my town around 2022.

This is good to know, thanks. I'll look into it. To be honest, I don't really shop at any of these places so it's not thst big of a deal to give them a swerve.

@inickedthisnameand @fartotheleftsideI didn’t know about PE involvement in Gail’s. Makes sense that it’s poorer quality than it used to be now. See numerous other businesses who have gone the way of monetisation above all else. There was a thread on Windsor Legoland recently - overpriced, overcrowded shithole. PE’s involved in that as well.

Greed.

I'm asking if there's any other reason you boycott it?

@Twiglets1like what other reason? Does the fact I think it’s shit not suffice for you?

Greggs any day of the week.

Not seen any in Scotland so have never been...

The Cow and Calf also has the advantage of its fabulous location, I feel the need for a trip back up North!

It’s a question @Piglet89

Strange commentary from some about this thread being antisemitic. Personally I see lots to criticise about as already posted. And in a cost of living crisis, a bakery chain like this leaves itself wide open for criticism! I was thinking about it more this week as it's been in the news this week about one sandwich's crazy high salt content. What makes you think this is antiseminitism? I can assure you I'm absolutely not x

Never heard of it until this thread. Looking on their website just now, it appears they don't have any branches in Scotland so that might be why!

Haha, caring about animals and not wanting or needing to participate in their abuse is not a fad. It says a lot about you that you think it is a fad.

Of course it isn’t. It’s just an amazing coincidence 😂

@Twiglets1you are behaving really oddly on this thread - playing the wide-eyed innocent, as though it’s not perfectly obvious you’re suggesting posters like me are being antisemitic because we have criticised a bakery chain for being overpriced and underwhelming.

That criticism has nothing to do with its founders being Jewish and it is intellectually lazy and really quite offensive to insinuate it is.

You really aren’t helping your cause. You are doing quite the opposite here.

I bet most people criticising Gail’s don’t even know about the connections. I only found out recently because of those awful protests against the new one in archway. I can’t stand Gail’s as it’s too expensive for what it is, but my adult son loves it so I will occasionally buy him those pink little cakes as a treat. Not sure of the ridiculous posters here will think I am antisemitic or not based on that 🙄

I'm in London, so almost over Gail's (although I do like the spinach and feta roll thingy). In defence of the staff, I've been in lots of branches and found them to be lovely. I live in South West London but really like a couple of the small chains in South East London ... Blackbird does lovely cake and savouries, and I also love Brown and Green. Real local heroes.

How come not one poster has mentioned Reeves bakery?? Genuinely stunned 😳

@EggStationindeed. Best continue to gobble up Gails’ expensive, dry, underseasoned, ungenerously filled vegetable quiches and lukewarm lattes, lest one is accused of being a Jew hater.

You're really being blinded by your own agenda here.

I don’t have an agenda. I have an opinion.

Agree but at this point I suggest we ignore the ones trying to derail this thread.