Inspectors said ‘major improvement’ was necessary
05:00, 18 Sep 2025Updated 12:29, 18 Sep 2025
Gail’s received a 1-star food hygiene rating last month(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
A bakery chain failed its hygiene rating in Birmingham after being open for less than a year.
Gail’s is known for tasty pastries and cakes across the country, and has shops in London, Bristol and Liverpool as well as Birmingham.
The bakery opened in January on New Street right next to Needless Alley, replacing shoe shop Ecco.
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But on August 4, Gail’s was awarded a score of 1 (major improvement necessary) from food hygiene inspectors.
Anything below a score of 3 (generally satisfactory) is considered a fail from the Food Standards Agency.
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The 1-star rating is the lowest score of any Gail’s bakery and one of only three in the country to be failing in hygiene.
Earlier this year though, stores in Cambridgeshire and London were awarded scores of 2 (improvement necessary).
A Gail’s spokesperson told BirminghamLive: “Gail’s takes food hygiene very seriously, reflected in above average ratings across all our bakeries.
“We have fully investigated this isolated incident which has now been resolved and are confident the issue is under control and poses no risk to our customers or products.”
Back in January, Gail’s manager addressed concerns about the opening, but said the new bakery would ‘improve’ the landscape.
Needless Alley with Gail’s on the right(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
She said: “We understand the concern around chains, but our view is that a healthy high street is one with a diversity of quality offers, each delivering their best.
“High streets evolve over time, and we open our bakeries often in closed banks, retail spaces or restaurants, improving the landscape of the high street.
“All of our bakeries exist in areas where the choices are wide and growing – we believe the improvement in our food landscapes is something to celebrate.”