Gail’s might be in the business of flat whites and pastries, but the bakery chain is no stranger to controversy.
From angry locals who see the cafe as a symbol of gentrification, to its decision to charge more for day-old pastries, Gail’s certainly sparks debate.
And now, it’s facing more backlash after revealing that it will be opening 10 of its London branches on December 25.
Announcing the news on Instagram, Gail’s wrote: ‘If you’re out and about on Christmas Day, a few of our bakeries will be open.
‘A place for a coffee, a loaf or a familiar face on a quiet morning.’
They’ll also be treating those customers who do walk through their doors. ‘If you stop by, we’ll be giving away a mince pie on us – a small gesture of thanks to anyone spending part of the day with us.’
Which Gail’s branches will be open on Christmas Day?
The 10 branches that will be serving customers will be open for almost the entire day – with the Shafestbury Avenue store in London’s West End opening for 13 hours.
The full list of Gail’s branches open on Christmas Day are:
- St John’s Wood: 8am-5pm
- Shaftesbury Avenue: 7am–8pm
- Long Acre: 8am–4pm
- Balham: 7am–5pm
- Greenwich: 7am–5pm
- Dulwich: 10am–5pm
- Clapham Old Town: 8am–5pm
- Blackheath: 8am–5pm
- Highgate: 8am–3pm
- Golders Green: 8am-5pm
What has everyone said?
Some Instagram users took the news as a kind gesture, celebrating Gail’s for supporting those who might be feeling lonely on Christmas Day – or not celebrating at all.
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‘This is lovely,’ wrote on commenters, while another added: ‘This is a wonderful thing to look forward to.’
For those who have a house full on Christmas, the thought of having some alone time on the big day might seem like a welcome relief, but for many, getting through December 25 is no easy feat.
Research from the Salvation Army found that 1.8 million British adults will spend Christmas Day alone, even though they don’t want to, while latest figures show that the Samaritans answer 30,000 calls this December, including 800 on Christmas Day.
However, many Instagram users were quick to point though that, while Gail’s opening is good news for some customers, staff might not be so happy.
‘I really think for one day of the year the staff should have a day off…’ wrote a concerned Instagram user. A second said: ‘This is an absolutely shameful. Give your staff the day off!’
However, in their Instagram post, Gail’s explained that their ‘teams choose what’s best for them.’
A spokesperson also told the Daily Mail: ‘We’re proud to open a limited number of London bakeries in key locations on Christmas Day, to give people who might need it, somewhere warm and welcoming to go.
‘This was a voluntary decision made by individual staff members.
‘We recognise that not everyone celebrates Christmas and these teams wanted to be there for their communities.’
'I'm a food writer – and I can't stop eating at Gail's'
Metro’s senior lifestyle reporter, Courtney Pochin, regularly reviews world-class restaurants, but she keeps coming back to Gail’s.
She said: ‘Regardless of whether you’re a staunch Costa fan, or will only ever buy from an independent cafe, your coffee shop preferences say a lot about you, and others will judge you for your choice.
‘If your choice is Gail’s, you’ll likely be labelled as pretentious or a yummy mummy
‘But I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Gail’s. For some people their guilty pleasure is a cheeky Nando’s, for others it’s a Starbucks coffee with the works. But for me, swinging by Gail’s for a silly little drink, or a sweet treat is an instant mood-booster.
‘I’ve never had a bad experience there – the food is consistently delicious. My go-to order is the seasonal Apple and Sesame Butter Cake that quite literally melts in the mouth, but the sausage rolls also always hit the spot.
‘The food is also good quality. It’s not deep fried, frozen, or ultra-processed. As far as chains go, there are certainly worse places that could be taking over the high street.
Part of the appeal also comes down to the aesthetics – there’s no denying they’ve done a bang up job with branding. The decor is minimal and chic, and the packaging has been cleverly designed to give a ‘traditional’ bakery feel, with brown kraft boxes and red and white twine, as well as personalised stickers for each London location.
‘Even the Gail’s social media account has me in a chokehold, with regular recipe posts, showing staff making pastries and scones by hand, and drool-worthy snaps of iced buns, artisan bread, and frothy coffees. It’s food porn at it’s finest.
‘You can roll your eyes all you’d like, but there’s no denying that they’re clearly doing something right to keep customers like me coming back for more.’
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