Latest news with #HackneyTap
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Fury as famous pub is being turned into Gail's bakery just a year after sudden closure and petition to stop chain
It's not the only Gail's opening people are unhappy about HALF BAKED Fury as famous pub is being turned into Gail's bakery just a year after sudden closure and petition to stop chain ANOTHER Gail's set to open in replacement of a famous pub has left locals devastated. The former site of the Hackney Tap in east London is revealed to be turning into a Gail's bakery. 2 The new bakery will open on 345 Mare Street on June 12, 2025 Credit: Alamy 2 The site has been considered the centre of the community Credit: Google maps It comes after the popular pub in Hackney suddenly shut down in July 2024 without explanation. The site where the pub was located has remained empty for the past year. However, Gail's posters have been spotted around the windows of the building which state: "We'll be baking here soon." This follows planning permissions that was requested a few months after the pub closed, with hopes to turn the Grade II-listed building into a food and drink hub. However, local residents and pubgoers have hit back at the update of the site becoming a Gail's. On a Hackney Reddit thread, a user shared how they were "sad to see the local pub replaced by Gail's." Another X user in response to a post about the news wrote: "If I'm not mistaken that would be the third one in Hackney. "Gentrification in progress?" There has been significant concern around the loss of independent businesses on high streets which are being replaced by chains. It even led to a petition by east Londoners to "Prevent Gail's from Establishing a Store on Our High Street." Farewell to The Thornwood: Glasgow's Community Pub Closes The petition, which has accumulated over 1,800 signatures, states Walthamstow Village has been a "vibrant local neighbourhood in for its collection of local, independent and family-run businesses." The expansion of chains like Gail's into communities is therefore perceived to threaten the "uniqueness" of high streets and "bring a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores due to their massive scale and advertising reach." In response to the public dismay, a Gail's spokesperson said: "Gail's is excited to confirm it is opening a new bakery in Hackney this summer. "The opening will bring Gail's craft baking to the community, including creating a number of craft baking, barista, and management roles. "We will also be donating surplus baked goods through our Neighbourly partnership, which will be distributing produce to six local charities and a school in the area. "This is part of our ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities we serve and improving access to quality food and drink on the high-street. They added: "Gail's has worked with long-term design partners Cavendish Studios to celebrate many of the Grade II listed building's original features like its large arched windows, high ceilings and wood cladded panelling with thoughtful design details."
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Fury as famous pub is being turned into Gail's bakery just a year after sudden closure and petition to stop chain
ANOTHER Gail's set to open in replacement of a famous pub has left locals devastated. The former site of the Hackney Tap in east London is revealed to be turning into a Gail's bakery. 2 2 It comes after the popular pub in Hackney suddenly shut down in July 2024 without explanation. The site where the pub was located has remained empty for the past year. However, Gail's posters have been spotted around the windows of the building which state: "We'll be baking here soon." This follows planning permissions that was requested a few months after the pub closed, with hopes to turn the Grade II-listed building into a food and drink hub. However, local residents and pubgoers have hit back at the update of the site becoming a Gail's. On a Hackney Reddit thread, a user shared how they were "sad to see the local pub replaced by Gail's." Another X user in response to a post about the news wrote: "If I'm not mistaken that would be the third one in Hackney. "Gentrification in progress?" There has been significant concern around the loss of independent businesses on high streets which are being replaced by chains. It even led to a petition by east Londoners to "Prevent Gail's from Establishing a Store on Our High Street." The petition, which has accumulated over 1,800 signatures, states Walthamstow Village has been a "vibrant local neighbourhood in for its collection of local, independent and family-run businesses." The expansion of chains like Gail's into communities is therefore perceived to threaten the "uniqueness" of high streets and "bring a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores due to their massive scale and advertising reach." In response to the public dismay, a Gail's spokesperson said: "Gail's is excited to confirm it is opening a new bakery in Hackney this summer. "The opening will bring Gail's craft baking to the community, including creating a number of craft baking, barista, and management roles. "We will also be donating surplus baked goods through our Neighbourly partnership, which will be distributing produce to six local charities and a school in the area. "This is part of our ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities we serve and improving access to quality food and drink on the high-street. They added: "Gail's has worked with long-term design partners Cavendish Studios to celebrate many of the Grade II listed building's original features like its large arched windows, high ceilings and wood cladded panelling with thoughtful design details."
Time Out
4 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
A famous old pub in Hackney is being turned into a Gail's Bakery
You can't swing a cat without hitting five Gail's in London these days. Love it or hate it, the posh bakery chain has been rapidly rolling out across the capital in 2025, opening outposts in Stoke Newington, Southwark, Primrose Hill, Walthamstow, and Gatwick Airport. Now another Gail's is on the horizon in London, taking over the former site of the Hackney Tap in east London. The pub on Mare Street closed its doors suddenly in July 2024 with no explanation. The site has remained empty for the past year, but planning permission was requested a few months after the pub's closure to turn the Grade II-listed building into a food and drink spot. Now Gail's posters have been spotted in the building's windows, MyLondon reported. Londoners blamed 'people not getting drunk any more' on the pub being turned into a bakery, Metro reported. 'It is a shame people don't get drunk anymore. It is sad, we are all prioritising the gym over the pub. It might be good for your physical health but not your mental health,' one 27-year-old local said. He added: 'Community spaces are being replaced by commercial ones. This is the centre of the community of Hackney, there should be a pub on this street. There should be more social spaces here. 'It is also a shame we don't have more independent stores.' Gail's has announced on its website that the new outpost on 354 Mare Street, which the bakery is calling the Hackney Castle branch, will open on June 12 2025, serving 'artisan sourdough breads, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes alongside our specialty House Blend coffee'. The spot will be open daily from 7am to 7pm. Gail's is opening 40 new bakeries across the UK in 2025. The 53 London neighbourhoods 'gentrifying' the fastest in 2025 – full list.
Metro
4 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Londoners blame 'people not getting drunk anymore' for Gail's takeover of pub
Tom and Anastasia agreed that young Brits have given up the boozer in favour of the gym (Picture: Luke Alsford / Metro) A pub which closed down is set to reopen as a Gail's – but Londoners fear this means Britain has fallen out of love with drinking. The Hackney Tap, on Mare Street in east London, closed suddenly last August after trading for around four years. In a post on social media confirming its closure, the pub said it was 'sorry' to announce the news but did not confirm why it was happening. Now the building where the pub was based, which is Grade-II listed, has been plastered with Gail's adverts announcing it will open there soon. It is the latest chapter in the rise of the bakery chain, which plans to open up to 40 stores this year, and the decline of independent pubs. James Newland, 27, told Metro he was 'not a fan' of the Hackney Tap's closure last July. 'It is a shame people don't get drunk anymore. It is sad, we are all prioritising the gym over the pub. It might be good for your physical health but not your mental health.' The environmental economist said that chains and commercial venues like Gail's are pushing out of social venues from high streets. James Newland bemoans the fact that people are not getting drunk anymore (Picture: Luke Alsford / Metro) He added: 'Community spaces are being replaced by commercial ones. This is the centre of the community of Hackney, there should be a pub on this street. There should be more social spaces here. 'It is also a shame we don't have more independent stores.' Chris Priestman, 28, and his flatmate Michael, 27, live opposite the Hackney Tap and joked they 'predicted it would become a Gail's as soon as it closed'. The pair are mourning the pub's closure, describing it as the one peaceful place on an otherwise bustling High Street. They told Metro the Tap's closure was another sign of gentrification in the area, after Pret a Manger opened a store around the corner just a month ago. Tom, 22, added that it was another sign that younger Brits are no longer fans of going to pubs. He told Metro: 'The younger generation are just not going to pubs. It is harder for pubs to stay in business. 'Social media are pushing healthier lifestyles and gym culture. People are drinking a lot less.' The Hackney Tap is now a Gail's under construction (Picture: Luke Alsford / Metro) 'People are losing more social interaction, but maybe they are having that interaction at the gym now.' He added that despite this, he felt the location looked like the perfect for the bakery chain. His girlfriend Anastasia, 25, added that she felt many people 'are prioritising healthier lifestyles.' She added: 'People are trying to wake up early now and get their bread in the morning.' According to a survey by UK supermarket Ocado, which was published in January, 43 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds and 32 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds have given up alcohol entirely. Half of all under-55s now only drink alcohol on special occasions, the study also showed. The drop in drinkers has been devastating for the pub and club industry. Six pubs closed every week in 2024, leading in approximately 4,500 job losses, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). London was the hardest hit, with 34 pubs shutting up shop. Mare Street is now filled with big brand chains (Picture: Luke Alsford / Metro) Gail's has seen this kind of controversy before. When word spread of plans to open a store in Walthamstow village in north east London, locals revolted. 1,800 people signed a petition to stop the business from opening, describing the area as a 'treasured for its collection of local, independent, and family-run businesses'. At the time, a spokesperson for Gail's said: 'We understand the concern around chains, but our view is that a healthy high street is one with a diversity of quality offers each delivering their best. 'High streets evolve over time and we open our small bakeries often in closed banks or stranded restaurants. 'All of our bakeries exist in areas where the choices are wide and growing – we should be celebrating the improvement in our food landscapes.' The branch later opened as planned, despite the backlash. Maria, 41, did not hide her disappointment at another well known brand on the high street. The psychotherapist told Metro: 'There are too many chains, they are destroying local businesses. The nearest Gail's is not very close by. The Hackney Tap used to be a bustling pub (Picture: Hackney Tap/ Facebook) 'There are already so many chains here.' Daire, 26, who also used to enjoy a drink at the Hackney Tap, also said he favoured 'small and better coffee shops and small independent pubs.' But he thought there were bigger things to worry about, complaining that people are 'getting more upset about coffee than they do about what is happening in Gaza.' Gail's opened its first branch in Hampstead in 2005. It is now worth a £500 million. They have more than 150 stores and are planning to open another 30 to 40 in 2025. Metro contacted Gail's for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Convicting man accused of setting fire to Quran could 'reintroduce blasphemy' Arrow MORE: Aligne's new denim collection is here – and it's all about fit, style and everyday cool Arrow MORE: London's congestion charge set to rise – here's how much it could cost you
