Birmingham is an institution when it comes to the food scene. It is the home of Cadbury, has 10 Michelin starred restaurants and has an eatery where Tom Cruise reportedly ate two curries at Asha’s Restaurant.
Now Birmingham can add another boast to its belt - that of being home to the biggest Greggs in the world.
The collaboration is the first of its kind between Greggs the baker and Primark the fashion retailer to create a unique café and shopping experience.
As reported in the Daily Mirror, writer and keen bargain hunter Julia Banim visited the world’s largest Greggs. Here is what she thought about the menu and her shopping experience.
The collab feels like a long overdue fit for the two high street legends, with Nottingham-based interior designer Philip Watts bringing a fun and energetic feel to what's been described as the most ‘Instagrammable Greggs in the world’.
The doors to Tasty by Greggs officially open in Primark's giant flagship store on Saturday, February 12. However, I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek ahead of the launch, and feel I can now at long last officially add the role of 'pasty influencer' to my CV.
Although the Tasty by Greggs cafe is far more than just your average Greggs, the menu will be very familiar to all Greggs fans, with all your favourite treats present and correct - nothing brand new or different being sold here.
Seems a bit of a shame they didn't decide to create a limited-edition Primark-themed doughnut or something with bright neon colours to match the playful interior.
With nothing new on offer to tantalise my tastebuds, I opted for a trusty vegan sausage roll followed by a sugar strand doughnut, all washed down with a vanilla latte from the quirky self-serve coffee cart.
Although I know not everyone is keen on self-service coffee, I personally enjoyed this aspect of the restaurant, which really does enhance the relaxed feel of the place. I can absolutely imagine nipping in for 'just one coffee' before staying for three.
As big as the cafe and host store are, the sausage rolls and doughnuts were unfortunately standard-sized, which was, admittedly, another small disappointment. However, it does mean there's always room to eat more!
Being Northern, I'm more than happy queuing up at small Greggs' chains during hurried lunch break runs. However, Tasty by Greggs brings a completely new dynamic to the beloved bakery experience that I didn't even know I needed in my life until now.
You will also still very much feel like you are in Greggs, albeit Greggs when looked at through an influencer-worthy Instagram filter.
Tasty takes things to the next level, seating as many as 130 people in a spacious and above all very chilled-out space.
However, despite its size, Tasty doesn’t have the sort of impersonal, hectic feel that a lot of large high street cafes have.
Divided into distinct sections, Tasty has a fun, home-from-home feel, and you can absolutely imagine flopping down here with your shopping bags to sift through new purchases at your leisure.
Those wanting a summery feel in drizzly February can park themselves in the light and airy Greggs picnic area, which is fitted with picnic benches well-suited to weekend catch-ups over brews.
Meanwhile, selfie lovers will be in their element, with the most ‘Instagrammable Greggs in the world’ certainly living up to its name.
My personal favourite feature was the cute sprinkle doughnut swing, surrounded by neon signage and tailor-made to show off your latest Primark haul.
I can imagine this will prove popular, so I'd definitely advise grabbing yourself a seat at one of the nearby half doughnut booths while you wait for it to free up.
Much like the chain that's kept Brits coming back again and again since 1939, Tasty offers a friendly, welcoming experience, all while bringing something a little new and vibrant - it's the perfect accompaniment to any serious Primark shopping spree.
Tasty by Greggs will open at Primark’s Birmingham store at 8.00 am on Saturday, February 12, and can be found between men’s and ladieswear on Primark’s -1 Mezzanine floor.
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