Baking is one of the world’s oldest and most enduring arts. From the earliest days of civilization, people have been mixing flour and water, kneading dough and baking bread. Over time, the techniques and ingredients have evolved, but the essential act of transforming simple ingredients into something remarkable remains the same.
Today, on World Baking Day, we celebrate the legacy of bakers throughout history. From the Egyptians and Greeks to the Romans and beyond, baking has played a central role in human culture. It has fed revolution and rebellion, sustained communities and brought families together around the table.
Baking at GAIL’s
For us, bread is the food of life. We love the simplicity and honesty in baking, and that it’s a living tradition. We choose to bake every day. Honouring the traditions of the past while embracing the possibilities of the present.
We create extraordinary products made the right way, sometimes the long way. Our craft bakers and baristas make quality food and coffee that we’re proud of every day. We deal in real food, with real people.
Good for You
We believe in buying the best ingredients we can find for our baking. We commit to championing an interconnected economy of makers and growers, of partners and suppliers. We support people who excel in their craft, and we share their exceptional food in our neighbourhoods.
Our bread is healthy, made with natural ingredients and traditional methods. We focus on increasing the diversity of our grains, and we’re always reviewing our fermentation process to maximise nutrition in our loaves.
We bake with flour from Shipton Mill, a historic mill that has been producing flour for over 900 years. Today they combine traditional methods with cutting-edge technology to produce the highest quality flours.
Classic Bakes at GAIL’s
While new flavours and creations can be exciting, the classics remain a timeless source of joy:
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Bread
- San Francisco Sourdough – Distinctive tangy, creamy flavour and open, cake-like crumb.
- Seeded Sourdough – Wheat and rye flours, white starter, malt, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and linseeds. Each loaf is then rolled in even more seeds before being baked to give a crunchy crust and a light, open crumb
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Morning Goods
- Cinnamon Bun – Golden, flaky croissant pastry filled with cinnamon, brown sugar and butter, baked and then tossed in cinnamon sugar.
- Almond Croissant – Made using twice-baked, unsold croissants and topped with almond frangipane and flaked almonds. Part of our Waste Not range.
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Sweets and Cakes
- Blueberry and Custard Brioche – Brioche bun filled with vanilla pastry cream, topped with fresh blueberries and buttery shortbread crumble.
- Pistachio, Lemon and Rose Cake – Rich pistachio cake, iced with lemon, rose water and raspberry icing and finished with rose petals.
- Chocolate Chunk Cookie – Vanilla cookie with chunks of Valrhona dark chocolate.
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Savouries
- Spinach and Feta Roll – Feta cheese, spinach and leeks wrapped in buttery puff pastry and sprinkled with sesame and nigella seeds.
- Cheese Straw – Crispy puff pastry with mature cheddar cheese.
A Welcome Home in Every Batch
Whether it’s a loaf of bread, a tray of pastries or a special cake for a celebration, baking has the power to bring people together. Connecting us. Allowing us to share a meal and a conversation, creating memories that stay with us long after the last morsel is eaten.
If you’d like to try your hand at baking, you can find the recipe for our beloved Cinnamon Buns here. There’s something truly special about the combination of warm, fragrant spices and tender, buttery dough that makes this pastry a true classic. Perfect for sharing with loved ones over a cup of tea.
A Few Ingredients. A Lot of Heart.
This World Baking Day, we encourage you to take a moment to savour the rich history of baking. From the humble bread loaf to the delicate croissant, baking has been an essential part of our daily lives for generations. It’s a tradition we’re proud to carry forward with every mix, knead and roll of dough.
Click & Collect: Order ahead online and we’ll have your items freshly baked, boxed and ready for collection at your convenience.
Home Delivery: Don’t miss out on your GAIL’s favourites. Order for home delivery, straight from our ovens to your table.
In Bakery: Pop into your local bakery and delight in the enduring classics on our menu, from breakfast right through to home time.