Popular bakery chain Gail's is facing significant local opposition over its plans to open a new outlet in South London's Tooting neighbourhood. The move is part of a rapid expansion strategy aiming to launch 40 new UK bakeries before the end of February 2026.
Independent Businesses Voice Their Concerns
The new branch will occupy the historic former site of Morley's department store on Mitcham Road. This has sparked anger among existing independent café owners and staff, who accuse the chain of deliberately targeting areas with a high concentration of successful independents.
Oliver Howe, manager of Juliet's café situated directly opposite the planned Gail's, was critical of the tactic. "Gail’s strategy is to target established neighbourhood cafés," he told MyLondon. "We’ve been here since 2019. It’s no coincidence they look at a successful spot and suddenly open directly opposite."
Lydia Stevenson, an employee at the independent café Mud nearby, echoed these worries. "Gail’s seems to change the whole area when it opens a new bakery," she said, noting that a customer had already expressed unhappiness about the news, viewing it as a probable negative for local independents.
A Pattern of Controversial Expansion
This is not the first time Gail's has encountered viral backlash for a new opening. Last month, a similar controversy erupted in Crystal Palace. There, Laura Tilli, owner of the Brown and Green café, stated the bakery giant's arrival would make survival harder for small businesses, with independent cafés "trembling" with fear according to an Instagram post that garnered over 160,000 views.
Long-term Tooting resident Hilary shared the concern, arguing the area is already well-served. "There’s loads of great cafés and bakeries already such as Juliet’s, Mud, Ciel and Blueprint," she said. She suggested, however, that Gail's might pose as much of a threat to chains like Costa and Starbucks as to the independents.
Mixed Reactions from the Community
Despite the backlash, the announcement has also been met with enthusiasm from some locals. Reacting to the news on social media, one person wrote, "Woohoo! Great coffee and pastries!" Another commented it was "Great news - I was convinced it would be another vape shop."
Gail's has not yet confirmed an opening date for the Tooting bakery and did not respond to a request for comment regarding the local criticism. However, defending its record after similar claims in Streatham, a company spokesperson highlighted that new sites create community jobs in barista and management roles.
The spokesperson added: "We will also be donating surplus baked goods through our Neighbourly partnership. This is part of our ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities we serve and improving access to quality food and drink on the high street."
The debate in Tooting highlights the ongoing tension on UK high streets between expanding chains and cherished local independents, as communities grapple with the changing character of their neighbourhoods.
