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?

It used to be a lot better but they sold out and its more industrial estate than Artisan Bakery. The clue is they don’t heat anything in store and the Sourdough has too many ingredients and the pastries can be dry or overcooked. They used to do seasonal bread that was delicious and a real treat but pandemic changed that.

They do a nice Carrot cake I daren’t do savoury as my budget won’t allow the habit to form. I like Ollie &Steen for bread but again not all the time due to realising I can’t really afford my tastes these days.
I watched a podcast reviewing the most expensive bakeries we r talking Mayfair prices and I think less is more and would like to taste something amazing as I find pastries generally overhyped.
Laughing at the pigeon oblivious its living on Gourmet crumbs.

It was notably better before being sold in 2021 to a US firm.

It’s obscenely expensive, even in a CoL crazy world. I hate it when friends suggest we meet there. Gail’s are everywhere now, but I will always choose any other cafe over it. Some of the sweet treats are nice, but I don’t find the breads that exciting.

Overhyped and yes I can’t stand the excitement when one opens somewhere. It’s the modern day version of when a pizza express opened in an area the 90s…ooooh gentrification… house prices rising etc.

I have 2 near me and a friend suggested going at the weekend but I said no . We had a lovely independent bakery / café on the site of the current GAIL’s. Their lease came to and end and they wanted to renew… in marched GAIL’s and they offered well over the odds to take over the site and the lovely independent was no more. It’s happened in lots of places.

They are like a juggernaut and I think (for what it’s worth - not a great deal admittedly) that they have hugely over expanded.

From what I remember the products are ‘fine’ but I’ll never understand the queues outside on a Saturday morning or the excitement about GAIL’s (even the way it’s written annoys me) and I love an overpriced coffee shop / bakery as a rule 😂

Agree it used to be better when we used to go around 2010. It’s become the Emperor’s New Clothes of bakeries now. I prefer the independent ones near us.

And I know a few young people who work in the various branches near us. Gail’s does not treat them well.

Some cakes are nice, but pricy, but bread is awful

Love it personally. Whenever I’m down south I try to make a note to get a pistachio, lemon and rose cake - it’s delicious! My DS likes the cinnamon buns.

The one near me which opened up about a year ago is awful. Rude staff, dirty crockery and cutlery left on tables for ages and the place looks like a canteen. Dreadful place.

I've heard this as well.

'No' is the answer

Much prefer a Cafe Nero or Pret over a Gail's.

Came on to say just that. Starbucks is surely the absolute pits. Worst coffee in the entire universe!

We are getting one here and coincidentally it’s an area where the Lib Dems perform well in council elections 👀 It’s going to be near a Starbucks and Pret.

I hope that the fab independents don’t lose customers long term. It will be a shame to lose them.

I have made a point to never buy Gail's again. Their portion sizes have become tiny, while their prices have risen. It is not worth it to me anymore.

More importantly, many are boycotting Gail's for political reasons. Their parent company, Bain Capital, is said to be investing in Israeli tech and cybersecurity companies. People of good conscience do not want their money to go to a company that is thought to be complicit in supporting a genocidal, apartheid state.

How so?

I've been once and it was bordering on stale. Hannah Rickets has a review on YouTube that's worth watching.

Nice strong matcha and a lovely pistachio lemon and rose cake. BUT I wouldn’t like it if one opened up around here because there are lots of great independents.

Well I live in the deprived north so obviously have Greggs but not Gails (nearest one is two hours south so I've never been). But what we do have is a thriving set of independents, including some that make their own bread in house. I'm not sure why a chain bakery is a sign of gentrification, I'd rather have independents.

Known as Tarbucks in our house because of the coffee.

Yep I travel to a lesser area of London every Saturday that has a cheap independent bakery to buy a loaf and 4 danish pastries. Oh my goodness the pastries are best I’ve ever tasted. Less than half price of Gail’s stuff and soooo fresh.

The novelty of Gail’s wore off for me after repeatedly being sold luke warm coffee. It’s a lot of money to pay for a coffee that feels and tastes as though it needs a minute in the microwave. I don’t like having to say to staff it’s not hot enough and I don’t appreciate the look they give you or the no comment and the huffiness when they have to make another one. If they don’t like it being brought to their attention then they should make it properly in the first place.

It’s inoffensive and reliable. Coffee is fine. Bread is nice. I like their blueberry muffins. I’d choose it over Costa, Pret & Nero but not an independent.

Our local one is absolutely heaving with revising teenagers at the moment, so no chance of a table.

I’m in the north and we do have a couple of Gail’s close by. Had some breakfast/overnight oats the other week and they were delicious. Expensive but tasty.

Horribly uncomfortable wooden chairs. Not for me.

We have one in our local village. I bought a wholemeal loaf once - it was a fiver and a bit like concrete!. Closer to home, we have a genuine artisan bakery which is cheaper and better quality