For many, the sight of a Greggs bakery brings with it a rush of comfort and even nostalgia. Not least thanks to the uplifting, school-dinner-style staples offered on the menu, including sausage rolls and floury baps.
Today, there are over 2,600 Greggs in the UK – a long way from the vision of the company’s founder, John Gregg, who started out 80 years ago with a simple goal: to deliver fresh eggs and yeast by pushbike to the families of Newcastle.
Ten years later, he opened his first shop, Greggs of Gosforth, making, baking and selling fresh baked goods – and it’s still there today.
‘Greggs is just an iconic British brand’, says Milo Fletcher, a huge fan of the bakery, who has made it his mission to visit as many branches as possible as part of his ‘Greggs Pilgrimage’. ‘It’s accessible to everyone – you don’t need loads of money, there’s nothing fancy. You get people from all walks of life, and of different races, religions, genders, ages – going in with the same aim: to enjoy a hearty snack.’
But are all Greggs made equal? Apparently not. Despite the size of the chain, not only can the prices vary, but the same food can taste different depending on where you go and how well it is cooked.
So, with Milo’s assistance, we bring you the UK’s top 27 Greggs – an assessment that has been based, among other things, on a staple of the menu: the humble sausage roll.
‘I just felt that if you are going to compare standards, you need something which is consistent’, says Milo. ‘And sausage rolls never go out of fashion.’
With that in mind, it’s time to take a bite.
1. WESTMINSTER BRANCH
30 Palmer St, London, SW1H 0PH
Milo Fletcher, a huge fan of the bakery, has made it his mission to visit as many branches as possible as part of his ‘Greggs Pilgrimage’
Having munched his way through a sausage roll, margarita pizza slice, and a chicken and bacon sandwich, Milo declared this branch a full ‘all-rounder’.
He said: ‘The sausage roll was hot and tender, leaving me feeling warm inside. Its sensitive flesh peeled away to reveal a soft tissue of balmy meat. Everything in this store was great, the food was the perfect temperature, the flavours were brilliant, and the staff were great.’
2. SOUTHFIELDS BRANCH
8 Replingham Road, London, SW18 5LS
‘Cracking sausage roll! Absolutely top notch!’ declares Milo enthusiastically. ‘The pastry had that golden glow that made the sun shine delicately off of its perfectly baked outer shell.’
He was also impressed with the vegan sausage roll, which Greggs introduced in 2019, describing this plant-based alternative to the classic as ‘a perfect mixture of herbal spices and flavours’.
He also notes that the store itself ‘had lots of variety,’ was ‘well-stocked’ and the staff, who, although busy, ‘still seemed engaged’.
3. MONUMENT BRANCH
13-21 East Cheap, London, EC3M 1BU
According to Milo, this branch serves excellent food – though he was a little unsure about the Greggs’ vegan sausage bean and cheese melt. However, this was redeemed by the sausage roll, which Milo said ‘was delicious and warmed my belly’. The store itself, he said, was very busy, but the staff worked tirelessly to replenish the shelves and keep everyone smiling. There were lots of options and lots of food.
4. NORWICH BRANCH
18 White Lion Street, NR2 1PX
A small back door entrance leads to a large and busy store, though Milo points out that having more than one counter means you might not easily see all the products on offer. He found the bacon and cheese wrap ‘gorgeous’, while the spicy chicken and pepperoni bake ‘caressed my palate’. There were no sausage rolls left on day he visited. However, Milo added: ‘The staff were lovely, very helpful and very apologetic. Considering the amount of people they did not rush you through.’
5. FOLKESTONE BRANCH
336 Cheriton Rd, Folkestone CT19 4DP
Opened in 2023, this Greggs presented a pleasant visit for Milo. The sausage roll was ‘moist and filling’, if a little under-salted, and the chicken bake ‘could have been warmer’. The steak bake, however, earned high praise.
6. BRIGHTON BRANCH
150 North St, Brighton BN1 1RE
The sausage rolls here are ‘pretty decent’, according to Milo. ‘The pastry itself was nothing short of excellent, tightly hugging a succulent piece of meat that lavished on the tongue,’ he says. He adds that the store was packed, despite the rain, ‘which is always a good sign’.
7. CANNON STREET STATION BRANCH
Dowgate Hill, EC4N 6AD
This well-lit shop is located next to a Greggs recruitment centre, where Milo describes his sausage roll as ‘warm, buttery, and well-cooked’. Another winner was the chicken caesar & bacon wrap, followed by a small fruit bowl. ‘Lots of kind words and a welcoming atmosphere’, he adds.
8. NORWICH BRANCH
U2, Harford Place, Hall Rd, Norwich NR4 6NF
‘A pretty average selection,’ says Milo, but items were fresh and everything seemed new and recently baked. The staff, he says, were eager to please – although the sausage roll had a little too much crunch. He also tried the cheese and onion bake: ‘The insides were flavoursome and each bite filled me with both a whirlwind of cheese and a torrent of onion flavours.’
9. LEDBURY BRANCH
2 High St, Ledbury HR8 1DS
‘The shop was pleasant and the staff friendly’, says Milo, ‘and largely, the food seemed fresh.’
The sausage roll was at a good temperature and the pastry was flaky yet oily. However a sausage, bean & cheese melt was slightly luke warm and dried out. That said, the chicken bake was, according to Milo, ‘superb’.
He adds: ‘The variety of other options in the shop was exceptional – the most I’ve ever seen and the price of a sausage roll was 90p, not 95p!’
10. WORTHING BRANCH
2 Worthing Chapel Road, BN11 1BJ
A decent variety on offer, although for Milo, the festive bake – despite being slightly too hot – made his trip. The sausage roll, however, was a ‘perfect temperature: not too hot, not too chilly. A top-notch sausage roll!’
11. LEEDS BRANCH
Central Bus Station, St. Peter’s St, LS2 7HU
‘The staff smiled and were friendly,’ says Milo. And while there was only one sausage roll available, the variety otherwise was good.
In addition to the sausage roll, he sampled the chicken bake, which wasn’t too greasy: ‘The innards were tasty, a great balance of creamy sauce and chicken,’ although he adds there were some ‘worrying black dots’ inside.
12. FORTON M6 SERVICE STATION BRANCH
32 and 33 White Carr Ln, Lancaster, LA2 9DU
This is a typical motorway service station store, bustling with busy commuters. Though small, the shop was well stocked, reports Milo, with most items seeming fresh and tasty. He adds that the staff were nice, too, despite the busy rush.
The mature cheddar cheese ploughman’s oval bite was made from soft bread, and was a ‘good British sandwich’. The sausage roll was well-cooked, with soft and squishy meat.
13. NORWICH BRANCH
4-5 Anglia Square, NR3 1DY
‘There was a decent variety on offer,’ says Milo of this store, with the products (excluding the pizza!) seeming relatively fresh.
‘The staff were a mixed bunch. Some members were friendly and interested, but others simply dismissed you as “another customer”.’
He adds that the sausage roll was a tad soggy, although the meat was soft and well cooked.
14. SWINDON BRANCH
Marlborough Road, Chiseldon, Swindon, SN4 0NR
While the sausage roll was warm and clearly newly baked, Milo detected a slight issue with the cooking here: ‘The cooker fan had unevenly distributed its inferno, causing one end to char more fervently. Inside, the meat was compact and flavoursome as it should be.’ He does acknowledge, though, that the staff were very friendly.
15. CHEADLE BRANCH
67 High Street, Cheadle, SK8 1BJ
A busy, well stocked store with a decent sausage roll though there were issues with its temperature. But the crisp festive bake, redeemed this somewhat, says Milo.
16. OXFORD BRANCH
65 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1 3HY
Built on two floors where staff were constantly restocking, which kept everything fresh, says Milo. The vegetable bake was brimming with vegetables, the pastry was slightly crisp, the innards were warm and had amalgamated nicely in the creamy cheese sauce. The sausage roll was well-cooked, warm and flaky.
‘Nothing to write home about, but also nothing to write a scathing review about either,’ he says.
17. SHEPHERD’S BUSH BRANCH
Shepherds Bush Tube, Uxbridge Rd, London W12 8ND
The staff were chirpy and friendly and seemed to be in control of the situation when a shop lifter was spotted, says Milo. ‘The sausage roll had a good pastry which was not greasy yet also not dry.’
18. MALVERN LINK BRANCH
326 Worcester Road, Malvern, WR14 1BD
The freshness of the sausage roll and other items were clearly not in question. The variety on offer was pleasing, with the staff doing their jobs effectively, says Milo. He also sampled a vanilla slice, where the ‘sheer quantity of custard compressed into the slice leaves one’s mouth in danger of exploding like a Tom & Jerry cartoon. However, one can’t overlook the magnitude of mush in the middle which over-crowded these delicate palates, leaving one with nothing but the taste of jellied custard.’
19. NEWMARKET HEATH BRANCH
Eastbound Services, Unit A14, Newmarket CB8 0XG
The staff were good natured and the food fresh, but the options average, according to Milo. The sausage roll, however, was ‘warm, firm, and clearly baked to perfection’. The vegan sausage roll had a slightly floury texture and taste, but was well-cooked, tender, and immaculately seasoned. The chicken bake was piping hot with a punchy flavour matching the tenderness of the chicken.
20. SALISBURY BRANCH
2 Old George Mall, SP1 2AF
Not great food wise, but the staff were fantastic, enthused Milo. ‘Both those who served me and who directed me safely through the store greeted me with smiles. They thanked me for coming and treated me as a king.’ Sadly he reports that the sausage roll, though a good temperature, was greasy, and the three cheese pepperoni pizza was dry.
21. BRISTOL BRANCH
Asda Bedminster, East St, Bristol BS3 4JY
Squeezed into the corner of an Asda, this Greggs ‘didn’t have the greatest staff’, says Milo, ‘save for one exceptional team member who really brought the rest up.’ He adds: ‘The store items seemed fresh and it was relatively well-stocked. The steak bake was well-seasoned; its sauce coated the meat perfectly. The sausage roll was tasty, nothing to write home about. I would describe it as the standard.’
22. LONDON WATERLOO BRANCH
93 Lower Marsh Street, SE1 7AB
The items all seemed relatively fresh and the staff can only be described as ‘kind’ people. However the sausage roll ‘was a bit of a disappointment’.
‘The pastry was dried out and seemed to make my mouth feel like the Atacama Desert. The meat was a good flavour yet had an aftertaste of garlic which left one perplexed. Not the greatest roll.’
23. SALISBURY (THE MALTINGS) BRANCH
29 The Maltings, SP1 1BD
A good combo of polite staff and strong savouries. The sausage roll was well-cooked and tasty, the mature cheddar cheese ploughman’s soft and fresh (though oddly sliced) says Milo. But the Greggs chilli tortilla chips? ‘Bland and entirely kick-less. The sweet treats selection was also underwhelming.’
24. SALTASH BRANCH
Carkeel Roundabout, PL12 6LX
This branch, says Milo, ‘is spacious, modern, and well-staffed and the queue moved swiftly. The chicken mayo sandwich was let down by a mayo-heavy sauce and oddly pureed meat. The sausage roll redeemed it; tender, well-balanced, not too greasy.’
25. HOLBORN BRANCH
60 Kingsway, WC2B 6DS
Helpful staff made up for mediocre variety on offer here, reports Milo. ‘Hash browns were stale, and the ham and egg salad roll had overwhelming mayo as well as stale bread.’ The sausage roll, warm and tasty, offered some redemption. But, says Milo, the smoky BBQ crunch crisps were, frankly, ‘irresistible’.
26. PORTOBELLO ROAD BRANCH
238 Portobello Road, W11 1LJ
It starts well for Milo with a piping hot, golden pastry encrusted sausage roll. The vegan sausage, bean and cheese melt was also bursting with flavour. ‘Sadly, variety was poor, and staff seemed lost in existential thought rather than restocking shelves,’ he says.
27. CAMBRIDGE BRANCH
10 Fitzroy St, Cambridge, CB1 1EW
Despite the cheerful staff and good value, the sausage roll was ‘lukewarm’, and the pizza slice ‘suffered from too much base, not enough topping’. That said, Milo did say the store should earn points for generous portion sizes.
WORST GREGGS EXPERIENCES…
1. PETERBOROUGH BRANCH
A47 Eastbound, Crowland Rd, Peterborough, PE6 7SZ
On his visit, Milo arrived seven minutes before closing – only to find ‘no staff, no food, no explanation. [I was] stood alone in the silent shell of a Greggs. Even the Esso garage manager hadn’t seen signs of life. Outrageous.’
2. BISHOP’S STORTFORD
2C South Street, CM23 3AT
‘No sausage rolls. Not even a vegan one. Just porridge pots and disappointment. Even the cookie and chicken oval bite did little to lift spirits,’ says Milo.
‘It felt like a parallel universe where Greggs had lost its soul.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .