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By now, it should come as no surprise that practically every new Gail’s that opens in London comes with some sort of controversy. Recent plans to launch the bakery in Brixton, Crystal Palace and Hackney have all been met with pushback from locals. Now another Gail’s opening has got residents in north London hot under the collar.
The chain’s next London bakery is due to open in Highbury Barn in Islington. It’s taking over the space previously occupied by small plates restaurant Saltine, which closed for good back in December citing a ‘tough climate for small restaurants’.
But many Highbury residents are unhappy about Saltine’s replacement. They worry that it will take business from the indie cafes nearby. Food writer and Highbury local Nigel Slater took to Instagram to lambast the arrival of Gail’s at Highbury Barn, writing: ‘The last thing this terrace of much-loved independent shops and cafes needed was the arrival of this lot.’
That post sparked a Reddit thread in which many users agreed. ‘He’s absolutely right - people will go there for convenience rather than supporting existing independents that have existed in the community for decades,’ one said. ‘I'm sorry but it's overpriced rubbish. It brings 0 value to a high street,’ added another.
Elsewhere, a petition has been launched to ‘protect Highbury Barn from corporate gentrification’, calling upon Islington Council to take measures to protect small and independent businesses in the area. So far it’s gathered over 160 signatures.
Not all locals are as upset at the Gail’s arrival, though. One Reddit user argued: ‘For consistency, availability and reliability, places like Gail’s are great. When most independent coffee shops close at 4pm but I want an iced latte at 7pm, I know Gail’s is open and their coffee is not bad at all.’
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