Gail’s has been named the best bakery chain in the UK.

The prestigious Baking Industry Awards recognised more than a dozen bakers across 14 categories and praised Gail’s for becoming ‘a part of every community,’ despite a string of rows over gentrification.

While thousands of Britons love the upmarket coffee shop’s £4 croissants and £3.20 flat whites, Gail’s has faced revolts over opening new branches, with critics saying it will put independent eateries out of business.

Last year, hundreds of residents in Walthamstow, North East London signed a petition against the bakery, which now boasts around 170 sites nationwide.

But despite its critics, the retailer, best known for its sourdough breads, pastries and cinnamon buns, has been voted the best in the UK market by a panel of judges.

As part of the ranking process, the panel mystery shopped in Gail’s stores, where they claim they encountered ‘knowledgeable and enthusiastic’ team members at every site.

According to a report in British Bakerthis was even apparent in the retailer’s Liverpool Street train station, where a judge said there was a near-constant queue.

Despite the high demand, the judge said staff were still vigilantly checking allergens, offering recommendations and providing friendly service.

‘It’s clear to see the mission-led business strategy is working,’ one judge remarked, adding that ‘the focus on delivering good food sustainably and not compromising on this shows great responsibility within the industry.’

A wide range of bakers were praised during this year’s awards, with businesses picking up wins in categories including Baker of the Year, Craft Bakery of the Year and Bakery Retailer of the Year.

Among the runners up was the East Midlands based bakery, Birds, which previously won the Bakery Retailer of the Year award in 2021.

Since the win, the family run bakery, which is also a confectionery and butchers, has rebranded its store design and extended its opening hours.

The chain boasts 62 stores across the region and is well-loved for its bread, cobs, filled sandwiches and cream cakes.

Judges praised its commitment to delivering ‘exceptional products that not only meet but exceed customer expectation, while continuing to evolve and innovate to stay ahead in the market place.’

The chain was also praised for its BLT offer, which offers breakfast, lunch and a treat, with judges saying efforts to offer ‘fair prices’ were paying off.

It also won points for its employees. One judge experienced a ‘masterclass in customer service,’ while adding that it was a delightful place to be.

Also among the finalists was Lidl bakery, which previously won the top award in 2023, and has continued to build on its reputation by adding Special Guests products and Doughnut of the Month sections.

Some of those regarded as customer favourites are the chocolate cronut, brioche croissant and cheese pretzel roll.

The panel said the addiction of special limited-edition products, along with a strong marketing strategy, had put the bakery in an even stronger position than when it first won two years ago.

Also in the final three was M&S bakery, with the supermarket giant boasting 650 bakery sites across the UK. It won the competition in 2024 and 2022 and this year joined two other finalists as a runner up.

Judges said the retailer continued to be ‘an impressive business’ when it came to its bakery, adding that increased investment in product quality control, store fixtures and staff training was paying off.

Since opening its first bakery in London‘s Hampstead High Street in 2005, Gail’s has expanded far and wide across the capital and beyond, with sites in Manchester, Bristol, Cambridgeand Brighton.

Taking this year’s crown was the middle-class bakery, Gail’s.

As part of the ambitious expansions, Gail’s is due to reach multiple additional destinations across the capital, including in Crystal Palace, with talk of drive-though sites opening soon too.

When the chain announced plans to build a new site on trendy Stoke Newington’s high-street, locals were less than impressed, fearing that their unique street may be ‘ruined’ and ‘turned into Oxford Street‘.

Londoner’s in Steatham were also far from welcoming when their high-street became host to a Gail’s bakery.

Last August, thousands in Walthamstow signed a petition against a new opening amid fears it would run smaller cafes out of business, as well as locals promising to ‘boycott’ the ‘mediocre’ and ‘overpriced’ cafes.