GAIL's BakeryReviews 

1,018
TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

2.3

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 259 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Many customers expressed dissatisfaction with the service, citing issues like unfriendly, inattentive, or unhelpful staff, and a general lack of engagement in maintaining cleanliness. People frequently encountered problems with product quality, including bland or tasteless food, items with inedible fat, or products that seemed stale or burnt. Several reviewers also noted concerns about hygiene, such as dirty tables or issues with food preparation and service areas. Some customers reported issues with lukewarm drinks and the use of paper cups for dining in, which they found disappointing for a higher-end establishment. Conversely, a small portion of people felt satisfied with the staff, describing them as polite, helpful, and attentive, particularly at certain locations. These customers also praised the quality of the coffee, pastries, and other food items, finding them delicious and consistently good.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of staff, with many customers praising the staff for being kind,... See more

Product

Consumers find product quality to be ambiguous, with some reviewers expressing extreme dissatisfaction,... See more

Quality

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with quality, with some reviewers expressing satisfaction... See more

Service

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about service, with some customers consistently reporting positive... See more

Location

Clients share ambiguous opinions on location, with many reviewers expressing disappointment with specific... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

(Tunbridge Wells) Food and drink were fine (as usual at a Gail’s) but although the café was quiet the unoccupied tables (and in one case the benches) were covered in crumbs/sticky mess/spilt liqui... See more

Company replied

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Staff attentive but coffee overpriced £4.30 for a (very) small flat white.The main bug bear is the other customers, one person taking up a double table with a laptop and one empty coffee cup. All tabl... See more

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

As a tourist i love this place foodwise and seatingplaces wise. There is choice in healthy food and pastries, coffee is good, personel friendly, BUT apparently cleaning does not have a priority. I hav... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The pastrami sandwich was the worst i have ever had. The meat has great lumps of inedible fat, while the dressing tasted chemical. I was so horrrified I asked for the ingredient list. And no wonder! H... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Bakery
  2. Brunch Restaurant
  3. Cafe
  4. Caterer
  5. Coffee Shop
  6. Meal Delivery

Written by the company

Dedicated to the craft of baking. Available to buy in-bakery, online at https://order.gailsbread.co.uk and on Waitrose, Ocado, Deliveroo, Gorillas and Amazon Fresh.


Contact info

2.3

Poor

TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

1K reviews

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No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 45% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 24 hours

How this company uses Trustpilot

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2.3

All reviews

(1,018)

253 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Another lovely visit to Gail’s Bakery

Another lovely visit to Gail’s Bakery. The baked treats were delicious as always - fresh, flavourful, and beautifully presented.

A special thank you to Olivia especially and Tyler who were both delightful: warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Their service really adds to the experience and makes you want to return.

March 12, 2026
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This place could be so much better if…

This place could be so much better if it had more staff. Dirty tables, food on the floor. The kitchen area had a back log of dirty dishes piled up and toilets were without paper. I did ask if our table could be cleaned but was told they were short of staff.

March 10, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Staff seem as miserable as the products they sell.

Absolutely dreadful experience. Went in to pass in some time until the nearby shops opened and ordered 2 hot chocolates. This has to be hands down the worst hot chocolate I have ever been given in a cafe and paid £9. I asked for a cup with a handle as I was served them in a large shot glass/bowl thing and when I transferred it into the cup it was only quarter of the way full. I went to the staff to make them aware the must of made a mistake but to my surprise they confirmed this was the correct order. The woman was dismissive, accused me of having drank half of it (just shows how little there was) and was just plain rude. Asked if I could have a coffee as a replacement and I was abruptly told no. The manager called me down and was just as rude. I asked her “is there a problem” as she smashed her fingers into the till to get me a refund. I’ve never received such bad service somewhere before and all over a hot chocolate. I got a refund and my daughter and I went down to Starbucks where I got a large hot chocolate with cream on top, piping hot for £5.50. Avoid avoid avoid!! I have no idea
How this company charges such high prices for such bad quality products. The staff seem as miserable as their products they sell.

March 7, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Got an almond croissant and apple and…

Got an almond croissant and apple and blackberry muffin, they both looked so amazing but how have you managed to get the taste so bad…muffin tasted like vomit and the croissant was so greesy, both went straight in the bin, worst bakery I’ve been to, this was the Marlborough branch

March 6, 2026
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very disappointing

Gail's Bakery this afternoon must have been the noisiest place in Hove! We went for a nice cup of tea and a chat but we couldn't hear ourselves over the clatter and crash of trays and washing up and breakages! It really spoilt our visit please Gails have some thought for your customers!

March 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Gail’s App Promotion Feels Like a Bait‑and‑Switch

I’m a fairly new customer and have already made several purchases from Gail’s, Watford Town Centre. After signing up to the app, I was told I could claim either a free coffee or a free loaf of bread using the QR code provided. When I tried to redeem it, I was told I had to buy a loaf first in order to use the offer. That completely defeats the point. It is a misleading introductory promotion, and it’s put me off returning. It comes across as a company more focused on squeezing profit than treating new customers fairly. Well done Gail’s. You have lost a new customer.

March 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Finally went to Gail's

Finally went to Gail's, Marlborough (a location not even listed in Gail's own directory of sites) which is a moderately new site, but was disappointed. The Cafe is already feeling old & dirty, the staff were clearly not interested in either their jobs or the customers, the coffee was very poor (almost undrinkable tbh) and the food was all displayed uncovered & open where customers were queuing - and givens its winter, most of the customers were coughing and sneezing over the food. Hygiene is clearly not high on the list for Gail's!!
Would not recommend!

February 25, 2026
Unprompted review
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Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Staff attentive but coffee overpriced…

Staff attentive but coffee overpriced £4.30 for a (very) small flat white.The main bug bear is the other customers, one person taking up a double table with a laptop and one empty coffee cup. All tables occupied like this. A Work-from-Homer arrives, orders a single coffee, sits there all day while I perched on an uncomfortable chair

February 25, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

GAILS BAKERY IN ELY

GAILS BAKERY IN ELY. 😱
Very expensive. Coffee cold. No decaff tea. Only card payments. Food uncovered. Tables either full of cups or dirty. Toilets all out of order ( not sure how they can trade with no toilets).
Gails in Ely was highly recommended but sadly did not live up to expectations. Sorry will not be visiting again.

February 25, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Solihull branch- unwelcoming

Solihull branch. Oh the excitement - a branch of Gail’s opening up.!
Well ! Quite the disappointment. I usually go to Pret A Manger , which is about five shops away.
But I thought I’d give Gail’s a try. Generally, I can’t complain about the mocha, but it wasn’t extra hot as I had requested. The pain au raisin was fine, although ridiculously expensive when compared to other coffee shops.
My main point of concern is how unwelcoming the place is. I wouldn’t call the staff over friendly and also if they think their idea of comfort is sitting on wooden planks with no cushions or wooden chairs with no padding then I disagree with them.
It’s obvious they do not want people to linger over their coffee and cake.
Well guess what? I certainly won’t be lingering there again because I’m very happy to go back to Pret.
Tried it, won’t be going again.

February 25, 2026
Unprompted review
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Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I was disappointed by how unfriendly…

I was disappointed by how unfriendly the service at the counter was. For the prices you charge, I expect a professional and welcoming interaction. Having worked in hospitality for many years, I know that basic courtesy and warmth towards customers should be a given, not an exception. I have regularly spent significant amounts with you to cater our meetings, so this experience was particularly disappointing. I hope this feedback is taken on board, as it will certainly influence my decision about returning in future.

February 25, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I tried to get a cup of coffee for my…

I tried to get a cup of coffee for my wife. It was a disaster. I ordered a long black with a dash of whole milk. I wanted whole milk or half cream and half milk. I got a cold cup of half coffee and half milk. My wife was not too happy. I took it back and they argued with me that they got the order right but eventually gave me a cup of hot coffee with a dash of milk. The customer is always right.

February 24, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I purchased a fruit scone with cream…

I purchased a fruit scone with cream and jam and a blueberry muffin to take away. The scone was really hard and very dry and hardly had any fruit and the clotted cream and jam was very runny. Also the muffin was hard with very few blueberries and was dry and indigestible. I was very disappointed with the quality and price. They were over £7.

February 21, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

We went to Gail’s in Horsham

We went to Gail’s in Horsham. The coffee was small and very expensive £4.55 per cup. I asked for some additional hot oat milk as my wife likes a weaker coffee than I do but the young girl barista said I hadn’t paid for extra milk and poured the remaining oak milk down the sink. If this is company policy then Gail’s will very shortly lose out to the excellent independent coffee outlets around town. Rude and unnecessary even if it is company policy. To charge so much and then not give a satisfactory coffee is very poor customer service.

February 19, 2026
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor quality of bread

I started buying bread in Gail's bakery few years ago and the quality of bread was amazing. However something has changed in their receipie and baking process. Bread is far too salty and burnt to the point that it looses its freshness and softness, it has tough texture of stale bread. I thought that it's maybe the case that I was buying it in my local Waitrose, but it was exactly the same when I bought directly from the bakery. The quality doesn't go with the price.

February 18, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Buxton and Jobsworth Julie

I’d started to visit Buxton Gail’s on my monthly visits to the town. Last visit I was advised to get the app. I duly did — so this time I showed the QR code and was told I didn’t have a free drink as it had said in my welcome email. The member of staff was less than helpful ! Anyway when I sat down I checked; my fault I should have shown the email. Not to worry I could have a free loaf! So on the way back I called back it was the same member of staff I’ll call her Jobsworth Julie refused to let me have a free loaf unless I bought something else. Even though she knew I’d already purchased a cake and drink. I left, sent an email to Gail’s and a messenger message . Guess what they can’t even be bothered to reply . Clearly Customer Care is of no importance to Gail’s. Luckily there are loads of other independent cafes and large corporation ones to choose from in Buxton

February 10, 2026
Unprompted review

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