Latest news with #Gails
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hidden London: Bread by Bike, the Kentish Town bakery that kick-started the sourdough craze
Bread fresh from the oven. Step inside the blue frontage of Kentish Town's Bread by Bike and that's the first thing you notice, the smell: rich and warm and comforting. The ovens still humming. Then it's all the loaves on display: racks of them, most steaming slightly on the shelves, sitting next to vast bags of flour. Focaccia too. It's a carb-lover's paradise, complete with thick slabs of Basque cheesecake and endless pastries. Inside it is simple, understated: plain wooden tables, clear white walls, a blackboard, a little in the way of art. What they bake is why people come. It's impossible to deny that London's bakeries are having a moment — sometimes it's hard to walk down a street without seeing a new one, usually with a Birkenstock-clad crowd waiting, patiently and impatiently, to get inside — but Bread By Bike feels special. It is somewhere locals treasure — a far cry from the Gail's that in some parts of town get picketed. Perhaps that's because it's been around for almost a decade, slowly building its regulars. The brand began in 2016 when Andy Strang, trying to finish his dissertation for his physics PhD, found himself hopelessly distracted by baking. He spotted a gap in the market — only in London — for hand-baked sourdough breads delivered, as the name says, by bike. World-beating Hippy sourdough It began with deliveries to friends, which proved popular enough for Strang began to branch out. He found success: so much so that Bread by Bike opened their store in 2017, followed by the adjoining café in 2021, for which the money was crowdfunded (the names of contributors are memoralised on a 'backer's wall'). Sourdough, no surprise, started things. But it helped that the market seemed to be changing: pubs are struggling particularly now, but it was bad in 2016 too. And so the bakery and then café easily found a home. Since then, its success seems only to have grown. Perhaps it's part of the slow living trend: more than ever before, people are paying more attention to what they eat, where it's come from and how it's been made. 'I think it's been kind of going that way for a good while now, and I think that it's almost just becoming a norm in a way,' says Dale Strickland, who joined in 2020 and took over full-time from Strang in 2024. 'Coming to a bakery, it's an affordable kind of thing to do when you don't feel like you can head out for an expensive lunch. And I think people are just turning on to the fact that real bread is better.' Grilled banana bread, whipped mascarpone and a drizzle of espresso draws crowds It's real bread that takes time to get right. Here things start at 3am, which is when the team arrive and get the ball rolling, crafting the bakery's signature sourdough loaves — including their best-selling Hippy sourdough, which was a winner at the World Bread Awards in 2019. Of his team, Strickland says: 'We take on a lot of people from low skilled [backgrounds]. They're either changing career or maybe they're a home baker. We have quite a strong training programme.' It's training that is invaluable given the present crisis with hospitality recruitment. And Strickland needs his team firing on all cylinders: the shop opens at 8am, running till 4pm — and despite the name, it does far more than bread. There's an ever-changing café menu with ambitious items like kohlrabi, chicory and blood orange salads, or Hong Kong-style French toast topped with kaya jam. Grilled banana bread with whipped mascarpone and a drizzle of espresso is already proving popular; they're experimenting with a twice baked pineapple and coconut croissant; one for piña colada fans. Secret celebrity fans It's both Bread by Bike's fail-safe sourdough and this bold experimental streak that has built a fan base that goes well beyond its Kentish Town neighbourhood. Some come from as far away as Bedfordshire. 'You do get people coming in and saying, 'I've come all the way from such and such,' and they'll buy five rye loaves and go and freeze them,' Strickland says with a smile. 'So, yeah, we do have our fan club.' Any celebs? Yes, he says. Some aren't a secret — Yotam Ottolenghi gave the spot a shout-out during his latest interview with the Standard – but others are, and Strickland refuses to be drawn on them. 'There's quite a few,' he says. 'But I probably shouldn't name drop.' Perhaps these are the customers that still take advantage of the bike deliveries, which continue even as most customers these days come to the shop in person, all the better to make impulse purchases. Either way, business is booming. 'I actually live towards the Crouch End area and I often get people saying, 'Why aren't you opening here?'' Strickland says. Well, why not? He's coy: the answer is they'd like to expand, but 'not in the next year. Right now, we're focused on being the best we can where we are.' That, and the challenges of supplying their bread to 30-plus wholesale locations around London — including another personal favourite, Crick's Café in Archway — means that Brecknock Road is likely to remain the only site for now. Still, Strickland feels like there's no huge rush. In the meantime, I'm hoping for a return of Bread by Night, the infrequent supper club that see the café's interior given over to tapered candles and small plates where strangers sit side by side on the long tables to eat. But whatever happens next, BBB is still going strong, and so is the sourdough starter. 'We haven't killed our starter since the start,' Strickland says. 'It's been going for a good while.' Long may it continue. 30 Brecknock Road, N7 0DD;
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
I did the full Wimbledon experience for less than £60
The majesty of the All England Club hits you the first time you walk through its gates. The money is obvious earlier. Anyone with a vague understanding of the London housing market will realise this urban-bucolic corner of the capital does not come cheap. That much is clear the moment you leave Southfields tube station and immediately spot the tell-tale Gail's across the road. Many of those ambling down Church Road on Monday morning wore drop-waist linen dresses and crisp polo shirts which did not appear to come from Primark. It is all part of the spell cast by a visit to Wimbledon. You see an area at its best, spruced up to within an inch of its life. You absorb the refined buzz of thousands of people, most with world-beating skincare routines, making their pilgrimage to tennis Mecca. All are out for one of their fanciest days of the year and the cheerful mood is potent. But is it worth it? Hard to say, in the era of defeated acceptance of £8 pints. It is certainly possible to spend big here. Paying four figures for hospitality is the safest way to guarantee attendance if you do not fancy your chances in the ticket ballot. Should you succeed in that, the best seats on Centre Court will cost you £105 for day one, rising across the fortnight to £315 for the men's and women's finals. You could certainly make a case for these prices at the beginning of the tournament, on duration alone. Comparably good seats over Putney Bridge at Fulham's Craven Cottage can cost £160 for big games, for which you get 90 minutes of thrilling possession-centric Premier League football. At Wimbledon it is conceivably nine-and-a-half hours of entertainment on the two biggest courts, from the start of play at 1.30pm to the curfew of 11pm, albeit not when one of the three matches is Aryna Sabalenka versus the woman ranked 194th in the world. Is there further value to be had in SW19? I spent the day trying to find it. Tickets Only one viable option here and unfortunately it is going to involve an early start to join a significant queue. Some time before 6am is usually sufficient to obtain a grounds pass ticket, which cannot be bought by any other means. This gives you access to unreserved seats everywhere, except Centre Court, No 1 Court and Court No2. Also, and unusually for similar stratified sporting venues, you have free movement around the site. Gawp at the burly eastern European chap storming back to the changing rooms after his humbling first-round defeat; slow roast yourself upon Henman Hill; take a commemorative selfie with the Court 18 plaque which marks John Isner and Nicolas Mahut's very long match. Or the Fred Perry statue, if feeling basic. All of this will cost you just £30. Sport Admittedly that did not buy you a glimpse of Emma Raducanu, Jacob Fearnley or Katie Boulter on Monday, all of whom were assigned Centre Court or No 1 Court matches. It was still easy to pull off a Brit-hopping challenge, with Oliver Crawford on Court 16 and Oliver Tarvet on Court 4, then a disappointing Oliver drought. Never fear, Cameron Norrie was along soon enough on Court 18, Harriet Dart was third up on 17 and Henry Searle closed out the day on Court 4. Those seeking star names on Monday could watch Holger Rune, Naomi Osaka or Zheng Qinwen, the sixth-ranked player in the world, with a grounds pass ticket. It is an extraordinary day of high-calibre sport for the price. Food Your picnic strategy is key here. Wimbledon forbids coolboxes and hampers but you are allowed to bring whatever you fancy in soft-sided containers. Realistically if you are sticking around for the full day's play you will require another meal. I ask at one of the information stands where to find food on a budget. I receive the reply 'that's a rough question at Wimbledon'. The Walled Garden area next to No 1 Court offers shawarmas and sandwiches which are not priced appallingly, but £5.20 for a stingy portion of fries or pot of edamame beans seems cheeky. Upstairs from there is the Larder where sandwiches start at £4.50 and a sausage roll is available for £5.10. No more than you would pay if short of options in a train station. Heartbreaking news for strawberries and cream fans, though. After a credible 15 year freeze at £2.50 the price has gone up to £2.70 this year. Dawdling near a stand selling them to gauge fury, I encounter a grand total of zero complaints. Drink The picnic amnesty also permits alcohol, either two 500ml beers or one 750ml bottle of wine. Could go for a punchy 20 per cent ABV Pedro Ximénez sherry if you really want to make the most of your personal allowance? A bold move given the weather, but sure to be rewarded. Plausibly could be sipped at intervals across several hours, which would save you the indignity of paying £8.85 for a pint of Stella Artois. I briefly think I have found a hack which reduces this price to £7.50 at the Larder bar but on closer inspection that will only get you a 330ml bottle. For a more sensible hydration strategy there is the option of a reusable Evian bottle with free refills all day for £5, although the plastic bottle may not play well with environment fans. Merchandise Look past the Ralph Lauren vintage tennis print shirt (£229) and the full-zip white jacket which is perfect for your next Roger Federer party (£125) there is the odd affordable option in the shops. I begin a hunt for the cheapest items available, because even budget-conscious fans deserve a souvenir. A promising start with the licensed racket dampeners, £7.99 for two. A keyring attached to a small Slazenger ball is yours for £7. Then I spot some pots of pens, tantalisingly unpriced. A kind assistant tells me the biros are £3 and a black marker pen is £2.50. We have a winner! And a ruined backpack when it inevitably leaks. 'Free fun' If you have the foresight to bring your own water bottle there are several fountains around the site providing free refills. If you are willing to give an affiliated airline your email address you can win a prize draw for a holiday to Dubai, or more likely some branded tat. If you wish to play a tiring-looking target-hitting tennis game with a sponge ball on a big screen then racket-makers Babolat have got your back. The museum, the world's largest about tennis, near gate four, is also worth a visit. Especially because it is usually £32 for adults but free for anyone visiting during the Championship. Extra-especially because it is air conditioned. Verdict With the caveat that you will not be roaring drunk, you will be queueing in a park for several hours, and you might be leaving peckish there is a route to a day at Wimbledon for under £60: £30 grounds ticket £10 homemade picnic £10 bottle of wine £4.95 sandwich £2.50 commemorative marker pen Total: £57.45 In the early days of the Championship, given the high level of play hosted on outside courts, that is a steal compared to most top-level sport. It is to the All England Club's credit that this remains possible. Yes, you might feel ripped off if you come to SW19 under-prepared and thirsty. But few comparable events offer such an accessible route to a bucket list day out.
Time Out
09-06-2025
- Time Out
South-east London is getting a new rapid bus route
Londoners, meet the Bakerloop. No, it's not a new pastry from Gails, it's TfL's brand new express bus route. Officially called the BL1, the service is officially set to launch this autumn as part of the ongoing Superloop expansion. The loop's route essentially just traces that of the proposed (and still unfunded) Bakerloo line extension we've all been dreaming of, zipping between Waterloo and Lewisham via Elephant & Castle, Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate. Basically, it's an answer to that age old problem of trying to get anywhere from south-east London. Thank God. The new route comes off the back of a public consultation, which found overwhelming support for the BL1: 82 percent of respondents said it'd be more convenient, and 79 percent reckoned it'd get them there faster. The people have spoken – and TfL listened, albeit with one tiny tweak. A planned stop in Lewisham's Station Road has been scrapped to keep the journey swift and streamlined. The Bakerloop is set to run every 12 minutes from Monday to Saturday, then every 15 minutes during off-peak hours and on Sundays. So, soon there'll be no excuse not to visit those arty friends of yours who never leave New Cross. This is the first central London route to join the Superloop network—a now fully operational system of rapid orbital buses designed to connect outer London without the faff of switching trains. And yes, we've already waxed lyrical about its southeast expansion here, so naturally we're thrilled to see it taking shape. But the Bakerloop isn't just about getting from A to B. It's a not-so-subtle nudge toward that long-promised Bakerloo line extension - an upgrade that Lewisham locals have been desperately campaigning for. While the Tube extension remains stalled in budgetary limbo, BL1 is here to prove that south-east London deserves better, faster transport, whether it's underground, overground or Bakerlooping free. Yes, that's a Wombles reference in 2025. So, while the government and TfL keep negotiating the future of the Bakerloo line, at least one thing's clear: the loop is coming. And this autumn, you'll be able to hop on board. .
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Gail's is coming to my high street. We are now officially gentrified
There's been a spot of bother in my neck of the woods: it's been announced that a closed-down café on the high street in Crystal Palace will shortly re-open as a Gail's. From the fuss on the local Facebook group, you'd think Putin has just announced that he quite fancies a chunk of south-east London, too. Hundreds of comments, fury and condemnation. Some have bemoaned the fact that Gail's is a corporate chain majority-owned by a private equity firm; that it's too expensive, 'tasteless' and even 'Zionist' (a claim we shall come back to later). 'Is this the place that puts almonds on yesterday's croissants and marks up the price?' queried one detractor. 'Bring back Costa,' said another particularly misguided local. Others are celebrating. Better a Gail's than an empty site, this side argues, for there are plenty of empty sites in these parts, dusty 'for let' signs hanging in the windows. If you prefer another, independent café, there's nothing to stop you from still going there, others have suggested. Good for jobs and house prices, added other participants. 'At least it's not another vape shop,' wrote someone else. On and on these comments went, so I sent the frothing post to a WhatsApp group of local friends, who were also largely horrified by the idea of Gail's. 'A baroque queuing system and incredibly expensive dry cakes!' declared my pal Ross. 'We don't need a Gail's, we already have £6 sourdough at Blackbird,' added Molly, in defence of another bakery on the same strip. I feel as if I have to lower my voice, here, but is Gail's so very terrible? I'm a tremendous fan of their blueberry muffin, though I also like their goat's cheese and lentil salad. I don't care if they are yesterday's croissants, either, because the almond version is magnificent. During Covid times, I'd often stroll through Sydenham woods to the Gail's in Dulwich a couple of miles away, where there was often a long queue, but it was worth it for a hot coffee and a croissant. We had to get our kicks where we could back then. When Gail's changed its thick, syrupy hot chocolate recipe, I was briefly dismayed, but now it offers both milk and dark hot chocolate versions, which perk up a winter walk no end. I've taken my laptop and worked in various Gail's. I've met dates outside other branches, to pick up a coffee before a first tentative walk alongside one another (all the rage, coffee dates). The Herne Hill branch of Gail's has a bowl of water outside, which my dog, Dennis, appreciates after a tiring session of chasing pigeons in Brockwell Park. Also, and this is important: the Gail's loos are usually decent. Quite often in coffee shops, this is not the case, which is very unhelpful if you're in there for a couple of hours, trying to work. I don't think we need to go into details of the loo in my nearest Caffè Nero. Hold it in if you're ever in the area, is my advice. Or come to my house. Plenty of loo roll. Plenty of soap. I'm not defending its prices. A Gail's almond croissant will set you back £3.90. Chuck a flat white on top of that and your pocket won't be overburdened with change from a tenner. Madness. But this isn't a madness exclusive to Gail's; coffee prices are lunacy everywhere (have you bought a coffee from a service station recently? It may well be cheaper to fly to wherever you're driving). But Gail's are generally clean, hygienic and efficient. Is that so wretched? Protesting against them seems to have become another way of virtue signalling. Take the row in Walthamstow last year. When it was announced that a Gail's would be opening in the north-east London borough last October, various locals got together and whipped up a petition trying to stop it. This was signed by 1,700 people. Criticism was heated: it would force out independents; it was horrible, horrible gentrification; it was co-founded by an Israeli baker and therefore, somehow, funding the war in Gaza. Zionist muffins! (Gail Mejia, Gail's co-founder, is no longer involved with the chain, and the business subsequently pointed out it had no links to Israel or Gaza.) 'The Gails-ification of London!' exclaimed a young local in horror, in an online video taken at the time. He looked quite hipster himself: denim shirt, pearl necklace, owlish spectacles. 'I want to live somewhere with cool and interesting stuff, not stale pain au chocolat,' he cried, before admitting he was 'part of the problem', that trendy sorts like him moving there had encouraged the opening of middle-class chains such as Gail's. 'But I want it to stop with me. I want it to stay nice and cool while I live here.' Pure Nimby-ism, in other words. If we're going to go after a threat on our high streets, might we look instead to the proliferation of chicken shops? There are dozens around me, with sticky little neon stars in the window offering deals on wings and chips, chicken burgers and chips, chicken tikka kebab and chips, and so on. Although I suspect they're using the word 'chicken' quite loosely – chlorinated birds from the United States might be preferable. Teenagers pour in after school when I'm often walking Dennis, and he tries to dive in after them because he finds the smell similarly alluring. Doctors may advise against these places, but I suspect many of those who signed the petition in Walthamstow would not. Protesting against a fried chicken shop would be seen as classist snobbery of the highest order. All right, all right, an almond croissant from Gail's contains a whopping 795 calories, so their middle-class patrons shouldn't eat these every day, either. But if we're worried about the general health of our population, and given that Ozempic is increasingly being touted as a cure-all, perhaps we could be more honest about the number of greasy fast-food outlets selling cheap chicken popcorn to kids in uniform before we start fighting a chain flogging seeded sourdough.
