Gail’s has finally arrived in Bristol – and it already has a sense of community

If you’ve ever visited a Gail bakery, you may have been among those longing for one to open here in Bristol. And, earlier this month, those prayers were answered when Gail’s opened a store in Clifton Village – and immediately made its mark on the local community.

Combining her delicious cakes (which we’ll get to in a moment) with her love of giving back, each branch of Gail’s is unique and somewhat personalized to its surroundings. As the staff told me on opening day, Gail’s doesn’t choose to open a bakery cafe in any random old spot, they take a lot of care, attention and research to pick the perfect spots for their new openings so you can get the most out of them by locals – and in turn give back the most.

Beautifully situated in the heart of Clifton village, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of shops and other businesses, everything about the cafe itself is warm and welcoming, providing a perfect haven for passers-by and whilst dogs are not allowed in the bakery. , there’s a sweet spot outside where you can tie your dog’s tail.

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The first thing you notice when you walk in the door at Gail’s is the warm lighting and endless array of beautiful cakes, pastries and piles of sourdough bread. The staff are super friendly and welcoming and there are a number of tables inside where you can sit down. It does get busy, though, so don’t be surprised if the seats are full when you arrive.

During my visits to Gail’s, some of the items on display included croissants, pain au chocolat, Soho buns, scones, flapjacks, brownies, and savory offerings like an egg souffle, cheddar, and spinach slider. Also on the menu, displayed behind the counter, are things like porridge, soup and batter, fried dough and fried bagels with a range of toppings – all priced between £3 and £8 each.

I opted for one of the head baker’s favorite items – the cinnamon bun – which was priced at £3.60 to eat out and £4.20 to eat in. You can also stock up on some of their multiple deals (four for £13.50 or eight for £13.50). for £27 to eat out, or four for £16 or eight for £32 to eat in). The cinnamon roll was big, full of flavor, with a rich, flaky dough that tore apart easily to reveal the sumptuous layer of cinnamon in each swirl.

It was covered in cinnamon sugar and is honestly one of the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had – I can definitely see how people would want to stock up on a large amount of them. As for drinks, Gail’s boasts its own specialty coffee and a delicious hot chocolate offering, among other hot and iced options.

I opted for a 75% Hot Chocolate (price £3.60/£3.80 depending on size). It was smooth, creamy, rich and is, again, up there with the best we’ve tested. If you’re a dark hot chocolate lover, this is definitely for you – or they also offer a 65% version for a slightly sweeter hot chocolate.

When it comes to what Gail’s is particularly famous for, its dough offerings are vast, and the few I’ve tried and tasted so far have been absolutely delicious, full of flavor, and definitely a standout dough. Dough flavor options include honey, almond, and walnut; mixed olives; potatoes and rosemary, the California version and Waste-not bread (which helps prevent ingredient waste).

Prices for the sourdough loaves on offer ranged from £4 to £5.10. The breads we tried were still fresh and tasted good days later, and the fillings and toppings were well thought out – they were truly wonderful.

After each working day, any food left in the bakery is donated, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Not only are many of the staff local to the area, the bakery has selected two local charities to give back to – Feed The Homeless and Loaves and Fishes – and they support several South West producers including Shipton Mill flour, Quicke’s produce champion dairy and biodiversity. Wildpress.

The staff deal with long queues and bulky orders in a really calm and friendly way and it’s really great to see a new bakery in the area already making such a big impact in the community. I have already returned for another visit and will definitely be back for many more in the future.

Gail’s Bakery is open daily from 7am to 7pm and can be found at 14 Regent Street, Clifton Village, Bristol, BS8 4HG.