Importance Score: 60 / 100 🔵
For many across the UK, seeing a Greggs bakery elicits a sense of comfort and nostalgia. This feeling is often linked to the satisfying, straightforward menu favourites reminiscent of school lunches, such as the renowned sausage roll and classic baps.
Today, the Greggs chain boasts over 2,600 outlets nationwide. This widespread presence significantly exceeds the initial concept of founder John Gregg, who began 80 years ago with the basic mission of delivering fresh eggs and yeast by pushbike to households in Newcastle.
A decade later, he launched his first retail shop, Greggs of Gosforth, dedicated to producing and selling freshly baked goods. This original store continues to operate in its founding location.
Milo Fletcher, an enthusiastic follower of the bakery and the creator of his ‘Greggs Pilgrimage’ project focused on visiting numerous branches, describes it as an ‘iconic British brand.’ He notes its broad appeal: ‘It’s accessible to everyone; you don’t need a lot of money, nothing is pretentious. You find people from all backgrounds – varying races, religions, genders, ages – entering with a shared objective: to enjoy a substantial snack.’
But do all Greggs locations consistently deliver the same experience? It appears not. Despite the chain’s extensive reach, not only can prices differ, but the flavour of identical food items may vary depending on the specific store and preparation standards.
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Therefore, with insights gathered by Milo, we present a ranking of the UK’s top 27 Greggs branches. This evaluation is based, in part, on key menu item: the humble sausage roll.
‘I felt that to compare standards effectively, you need a consistent benchmark,’ Milo explains. ‘And sausage rolls remain perpetually popular.’
With that said, let’s delve into the assessment.
Top Greggs Locations Across the UK, Ranked
1. Westminster Branch
30 Palmer St, London, SW1H 0PH
After sampling a sausage roll, a margarita pizza slice, and a chicken and bacon sandwich, Milo judged this outlet to be a comprehensive success, an ‘all-rounder’.
He commented: ‘The sausage roll was warm and succulent, providing a comforting sensation. Its tender interior gave way to reveal soft, moist meat. Everything at this store was excellent; the food was perfectly heated, the taste profiles were superb, and the staff were wonderful.’
2. Southfields Branch
8 Replingham Road, London, SW18 5LS
‘Outstanding sausage roll! Truly first-rate!’ Milo exclaimed with enthusiasm. ‘The pastry had that golden hue that allowed the light to gently reflect off its flawlessly baked exterior.’
He was also impressed by the vegan sausage roll, introduced by Greggs in 2019, characterising this plant-based version as ‘a superb blend of herbal spices and flavours.’
He also noted that the store itself offered ‘considerable variety,’ was ‘well-stocked,’ and the employees, despite being busy, ‘appeared engaged.’
3. Monument Branch
13-21 East Cheap, London, EC3M 1BU
Milo claims this branch provides exceptional food, although he expressed some reservations about the vegan sausage bean and cheese melt. Nevertheless, the sausage roll compensated for this, with Milo stating it ‘was delightful and warmed my stomach.’ He found the store itself to be extremely busy, but the team worked diligently to restock items and maintain a positive atmosphere for customers. Options and food availability were plentiful.
4. Norwich Branch
18 White Lion Street, NR2 1PX
A small back entry leads into a spacious and busy shop. Milo points out that having multiple service counters might make it challenging to view all available items easily. He described the bacon and cheese wrap as ‘magnificent,’ while the spicy chicken and pepperoni bake ‘pleased my taste buds immensely.’ There were no sausage rolls available when he visited. However, Milo added: ‘The staff were charming, very helpful, and highly apologetic. Despite handling a large number of people, they didn’t rush customers.’
5. Folkestone Branch
336 Cheriton Rd, Folkestone CT19 4DP
Established in 2023, this Greggs offered Milo a pleasant experience. The sausage roll was ‘moist and satisfying,’ though slightly lacking salt, and the chicken bake ‘could have been hotter.’ The steak bake, however, received significant commendation.
6. Brighton Branch
150 North St, Brighton BN1 1RE
According to Milo, the sausage rolls here are ‘quite good.’ He states, ‘The pastry itself was exceptional, perfectly encasing a tasty piece of meat that was a pleasure to eat.’ He also mentioned that the store was crowded, even in the rain, which he sees as ‘always a positive indicator.’
7. Cannon Street Station Branch
Dowgate Hill, EC4N 6AD
This brightly illuminated store is located adjacent to a Greggs recruitment centre. Milo described his sausage roll as ‘warm, buttery, and properly prepared.’ Other successful choices included the chicken caesar & bacon wrap, followed by a small fruit container. He added: ‘Many warm greetings and a welcoming environment.’
8. Norwich Branch
U2, Harford Place, Hall Rd, Norwich NR4 6NF
‘A rather standard selection,’ Milo remarked, but noted that items were fresh and everything appeared newly baked. He found the employees eager to assist, though the sausage roll had a bit too much crispness. He also reviewed the cheese and onion bake: ‘The contents were full of flavour, with each mouthful delivering a distinct burst of cheese and onion notes.’
9. Ledbury Branch
2 High St, Ledbury HR8 1DS
Milo reported, ‘The store was agreeable, and the staff were sociable, and generally, the food seemed freshly prepared.’ The sausage roll had a good temperature, and the pastry was flaky yet slightly greasy. However, a sausage, bean & cheese melt was somewhat cool and dry. Despite this, the chicken bake was, in Milo’s opinion, ‘magnificent.’
He added: ‘The range of other options available in the store was outstanding – the most I’ve encountered, and the sausage roll cost 90p, not 95p!’
10. Worthing Branch
2 Worthing Chapel Road, BN11 1BJ
A respectable assortment was available, though for Milo, the festive bake – despite being slightly excessively hot – was the highlight of his trip. The sausage roll, conversely, was at a ‘perfect temperature: neither too hot nor too cold. A top-tier sausage roll!’
11. Leeds Branch
Central Bus Station, St. Peter’s St, LS2 7HU
‘The staff were cheerful and cordial,’ Milo stated. While only one sausage roll was accessible, the overall variety was satisfactory.
In addition to the sausage roll, he tried the chicken bake, which wasn’t overly oily: ‘The filling was delicious, a good balance of creamy sauce and chicken,’ although he did mention discovering some ‘concerning black specks’ inside.
12. Forton M6 Service Station Branch
32 and 33 White Carr Ln, Lancaster, LA2 9DU
This is a typical service station setting, bustling with travellers and commuters. Although compact, the outlet was well-stocked, according to Milo, with most items appearing fresh and appetising. He also noted the staff were pleasant, even amidst the busy period.
The mature cheddar cheese ploughman’s oval bite featured soft bread and was deemed a ‘good British sandwich.’ The sausage roll was properly cooked, with soft and yielding meat.
13. Norwich Branch
4-5 Anglia Square, NR3 1DY
‘There was a decent selection available,’ Milo commented about this store, with the food items (excluding the pizza) seeming relatively fresh.
‘The team was varied. Some members were pleasant and attentive, while others simply regarded you as “just another customer.”
He also added that the sausage roll was slightly damp, 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 recently baked, Milo detected a slight issue with the cooking process here: ‘The oven fan had unevenly distributed the heat, causing one end to char more prominently. Inside, the meat was dense and savoury, as it should be.’ He did acknowledge, however, that the staff were very welcoming.
15. Cheadle Branch
67 High Street, Cheadle, SK8 1BJ
A busy store with ample stock and a satisfactory sausage roll, although its temperature posed issues. However, the crispy festive bake somewhat mitigated this, Milo reported.
16. Oxford Branch
65 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1 3HY
Operating on two levels with staff constantly replenishing stock, which kept everything fresh, according to Milo. The vegetable bake was packed with vegetables, the pastry was slightly crispy, and the filling was warm and well-mixed in the creamy cheese sauce. The sausage roll was properly cooked, warm, and flaky.
‘Nothing particularly remarkable, but also nothing warranting a harsh critique,’ he stated.
17. Shepherd’s Bush Branch
Shepherds Bush Tube, Uxbridge Rd, London W12 8ND
The staff were lively and pleasant and appeared to handle the situation effectively when a shoplifter was noticed, Milo mentioned. ‘The sausage roll featured good pastry that was neither oily nor dry.’
18. Malvern Link Branch
326 Worcester Road, Malvern, WR14 1BD
The freshness of the sausage roll and other items was clearly not in question. The selection of options was pleasing, and the staff performed their duties efficiently, Milo stated. He also sampled a vanilla slice, where the ‘sheer volume of custard crammed into the slice risks causing one’s mouth to burst like a Tom & Jerry episode. However, the considerable amount of soft filling in the middle overwhelmed the delicate flavours, leaving only the taste of set custard.’
19. Newmarket Heath Branch
Eastbound Services, Unit A14, Newmarket CB8 0XG
According to Milo, the staff were genial and the food fresh, but the choices were ordinary. 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 excellently seasoned. The chicken bake was very hot with a strong flavour complementing the chicken’s tenderness.
20. Salisbury Branch
2 Old George Mall, SP1 2AF
Though the food quality was not outstanding, the staff were fantastic, Milo enthused. ‘Both the employees who served me and those who guided me safely through the store greeted me with smiles. They expressed thanks for my visit and treated me like royalty.’ Regrettably, he reported that the sausage roll, despite being at a good temperature, was greasy, and the three cheese pepperoni pizza was dry.
21. Bristol Branch
Asda Bedminster, East St, Bristol BS3 4JY
Located in a corner of an Asda supermarket, this Greggs ‘didn’t have the most impressive staff,’ Milo remarked, ‘except for one exceptional team member who significantly enhanced the overall service.’ He added: ‘The items in the store appeared 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 extraordinary. I would classify it as standard.’
22. London Waterloo Branch
93 Lower Marsh Street, SE1 7AB
The items generally appeared fresh, and the staff can only be described as ‘kind’. However, the sausage roll ‘was somewhat disappointing.’
‘The pastry was dried out and left my mouth feeling like the Atacama Desert. The meat had a good flavour but had an unexpected garlic aftertaste, which was confusing. Not the best roll.’
23. Salisbury (The Maltings) Branch
29 The Maltings, SP1 1BD
A positive combination of courteous staff and satisfying savoury items. The sausage roll was properly cooked and tasty, while the mature cheddar cheese ploughman’s was soft and fresh (albeit unusually sliced), Milo stated. But the Greggs chilli tortilla chips? ‘Flavourless and completely lacking spice. The selection of sweet items was also underwhelming.’
24. Saltash Branch
Carkeel Roundabout, PL12 6LX
This location, according to Milo, ‘is spacious, contemporary, and adequately staffed, with the queue moving swiftly. The chicken mayo sandwich was let down by an excessive amount of mayonnaise and oddly pureed meat. The sausage roll redeemed it; tender, well-proportioned, not excessively greasy.’
25. Holborn Branch
60 Kingsway, WC2B 6DS
Helpful staff compensated for a mediocre variety of offerings here, Milo reported. ‘Hash browns were stale, and the ham and egg salad roll contained too much mayo as well as stale bread.’ The sausage roll, warm and flavourful, provided some positive points. But, Milo said, the smoky BBQ crunch crisps were, quite simply, ‘irresistible.’
26. Portobello Road Branch
238 Portobello Road, W11 1LJ
Things started positively for Milo with a very hot, golden-crusted sausage roll. The vegan sausage, bean and cheese melt was also packed with flavour. ‘Sadly, variety was limited, and employees seemed lost in deep thought rather than replenishing stock,’ he stated.
27. Cambridge Branch
10 Fitzroy St, Cambridge, CB1 1EW
Despite the pleasant staff and good value, the sausage roll was ‘lukewarm,’ and the pizza slice ‘suffered from an overly thick base and insufficient topping.’ Nevertheless, Milo did concede the store deserved credit for its generous portion sizes.
Worst Greggs Experiences
1. Peterborough Branch
A47 Eastbound, Crowland Rd, Peterborough, PE6 7SZ
On his visit, Milo arrived just seven minutes before closing time – only to encounter ‘no staff, no food, no explanation. [I was] standing alone in a silent, empty Greggs. Even the manager of the adjacent Esso garage hadn’t seen any activity. Unacceptable.’
2. Bishop’s Stortford
2C South Street, CM23 3AT
‘No sausage rolls available. Not even a vegan option. Only porridge pots and disappointment. Even the cookie and chicken oval bite did little to improve the mood,’ Milo recounted.
‘It felt like an alternative reality where Greggs had lost its essential character.’