It may have been a Monday morning, but as the sun shone down on Shaws Road and the scent of fresh cuts from Bloomin Flowers filled the air, excited punters patiently lined up to get a first glimpse of Gail’s - the hit London bakery which has finally landed in Greater Manchester.
Founded in the early 90s by chef and baker Yael (Gail) Mejia, the brand has gone on to open over 100 locations across the UK, from London and Brighton to Oxford and Cambridge. Now, following its first Northern opening on Water Lane in Wilmslow last month, Gail’s has opened its first Greater Manchester site in the heart of Altrincham town centre.
The London bakery firm has big plans for the region, with another site on Manchester’s King Street set to open later this year. It follows the opening of its wholesale bakery in Openshaw back in 2017, which has been providing bread and pastries to some of the region’s very best restaurants, cafes and hotels since.
Read more: National critic heaps praise on Manchester restaurant with £110 seven-course menu that’s ‘bonkers’
Their bakery in Openshaw has been supporting FareShare as well as local schools, presenting and teaching students about the benefits of healthier craft bread. The brand has also recently partnered with non-profit Eat Well MCR, and supplies surplus food to those suffering food poverty in the region.
Sporting the same stylish red and cream branding and logo as its other stores, the doors opened at 7am with queues stretching out the door by mid-morning. Known for its variety of artisan sweet treats, pastries and sandwiches, some of its bestsellers include its cinnamon buns, flourless chocolate cake and its wide range of sourdough loaves.
Its lovingly made loaves (priced from £4) range from spiced rye and San Francisco varieties to potato and rosemary and classic white and dark loaves, all of which can be taken away, along with its range of pantry items including Gail’s “famous” hazelnut and chocolate spread. For those after something to grab-and-go, there’s a range of juices, yoghurts and lunch pots in the fridge as you enter too.
Cakes, pastries, croissants and brownie selections change daily, with takeaway cakes priced at £2.70 for bakes such as the chocolate cookies and up to £.3.95 for delicacies like the pistachio cake iced with lemon, rose water and raspberry icing and finished with rose petals. Seasonal specials also rotate, with hot cross buns starting to line the shelves and boasting a recipe which dates back to the 1300s and bursts with flavour thanks to its extra fruit and long-forgotten spice, The Grains of Paradise complementing their existing spice mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
For those wanting to stop in for a spot of lunch, there’s plenty of sandwiches to choose from, whether on seeded buns, focaccia or bagels. Options range from the mouth-watering mozzarella, sun dried tomato and pesto wedged between freshly baked rosemary focaccia, to parmesan crumb-coated chicken thigh with chilli, aioli, iceberg lettuce, tomato and cucumber pickles on a toasted sesame bun, starting from £2.30.
Taking over from Mustard Diner, which closed its doors for good in January, interiors seek to celebrate the town’s market culture with nods to the nearby Altrincham Market and by adopting a sustainable approach to design. London-based design studio, Object Space Place, realised the space with minimal waste in mind.
The timber shopfront, lovingly worn terrazzo tiles and original wall, as well as pendant lights have all been retained to gently reflect the venue’s past. The designers also took inspiration from the nearby market hall with the simple black metal frame of the baker’s table and bread shelves.
Complementing this, calming shades of cream and natural materials such as cork and beech-faced plywood work together to create a relaxed and warm space. As well as the bakery counter and pantry, there’s a number of seating options, from high stools and tables - ideal for watching the baristas and bakers at work - to tucked away seating a little away from the action.
Daily opening hours at the shop in Altrincham will run from 7am to 7pm, serving up sourdough breads, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes alongside its specialty house blend coffees. The brand’s next site on King Street will open in the site of the former White Stuff and is likely to open in the next few months, with an opening date set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Read more:
