Foreigner's experience at Greggs | Love it or hate it?

[@shonagriffiths8907]

You look so happy wrapped around your steak bake. You are now an honorary Brit.

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

😂 Thank you!

[@GuvvyXD]

You are actually the first American that tries Greggs to hit the nail on the head with this video - It's brilliant for what it is! Cheap, quick and actually good food! I mean, those steak bakes served on a plate would cost you about a fiver 😂 Good job and glad you enjoyed!

[@betsytodd3511]

As a formerly puzzled American l’m so glad to finally find out what a Greggs is. I’ve seen them loads of times on Google Street View and for some reason it never crossed my mind that it could be food. I thought it could be a stationery shop, convenience store, book shop…baked goods never crossed my mind. I checked their website and I wouldn’t mind trying a few things there if I ever visit the UK again.

[@brianwhittington5086]

As others have said, they're a nationwide bakery and sandwich outlet, the baked food equivalent to KFC, or McDonalds. The menu range is pretty much the same, wherever the store is located. At this time of year, they usually add some festive items to the menu.

[@katrinabryce]

@@brianwhittington5086 One difference between them and KFC or McDonalds is that it is mostly take-away rather than eat in. You will usually have about 4 tables to eat in, but most people don't use them.

[@brianwhittington5086]

@katrinabryce You have to pick your time, or be lucky to drop on an empty table.

[@barneylaurance1865]

@@katrinabryce Take-away, and the food they sell isn't necessarily hot, which saves on taxes. It *may* be hot, but that's just because it happens to be freshly baked, not because it's deliberately served hot. The "pasty tax" was a controversial government plan to change the law in 2012.

[@SaintPhoenixx]

@@redfishswimming I still struggle with that, whenever someone says "I had 5 guys last night", I think "Impressive but I didn't need to know that" and then realise they meant food.

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

Impressed by your increased boldness in recording in public!!

[@TheDMFW62]

Greggs is nice and reliable. If you find yourself in a strange town you know what you're getting when you go to Greggs and honestly it's going to be more than half decent, even if not as exciting as you might get from a local baker. I'd go to a local bakery first but I'm not going to turn my nose up at Greggs. The vegetarian sausage rolls are also well worth trying even if you are a carnivore (as I am).

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

If I find myself hungry in a strange town Greggs is the last place I'd go, just ahead of McD's but most of the time I'd rather not bother with anything at all.

[@sabalos]

I'm in the north so it's almost required to like Greggs. We even have a Greggs drive-through up here. I don't like coffee, but I once had some Portuguese coffee-aficionado friends come to visit me, and they insisted on trying every coffee shop that they didn't have in Portugal, and Greggs actually got the nod as the best one.

[@jamc9498]

YEP

[@iceb-akap77ice93]

Wow. When it goes to the bakes I go for Sausage and bean. And Sandwich I get a Mexican chicken baguette. Quality stuff. If I could afford to I would go every day 😂✌

[@andrewjones4568]

The best thing about Greggs is the breakfast deal. You can’t go wrong with a bacon roll and a coffee for £2.50

[@chuck1804]

Well, I couldn't really call that a coffee....but that is a good price for a bacon roll.

[@Salfordian]

Egg & Bacon muffin and unlimited brews (Latte for me) for £3.25 at Wetherspoons...........

[@robertcreighton4635]

@@Salfordian weatherspoons breakfast deals are incredible.

[@originalname6921]

@@chuck1804 just get a normal coffee if you don't want the iced one. Greggs coffee is really good

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@chuck1804 - I think you may not realise that @Andrew Jones meant a hot, 'proper' coffee & bacon roll (must be with brown sauce!) and NOT that tinned cold (coffee flavoured milk - LOL!)....

[@RalphBellairs]

Greggs is the McDonalds of bakeries...not particularly great, but you know exactly what you're going to get! Next time get a cheese & onion bake - that's my fave! 🙂

[@golach420]

The Micky D analogy is spot on. There are other way better fast food joints, but you know what you're getting with Micky D (Greggs).

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

Ahh that's such a good analogy!

[@projectverna1937]

Nah, Pound Bakery is the McDonald's of bakeries: that one is even lower down 🤣

[@projectverna1937]

Nah, Pound Bakery is the McDonald's of bakeries: that one is even lower down 🤣

[@projectverna1937]

Nah, Pound Bakery is the McDonald's of bakeries: that one is even lower down 🤣

[@eugeneshadwell6596]

I have a Greggs five minutes away from my flat. Last Saturday I had a steak bake, a sausage cheese and bean bake (you gotta try one of those!) and a triple chocolate doughnut for my lunch. Did I feel proud of myself? No. Did I regret a single bite? HELL, no! 😁 I wouldn't do it every day but when I do...life is good.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Sausage cheese and baked bean bake is beautiful 😊

[@andrewcharles5575]

The only way that's a balanced diet is if you've got one of those bakes in each hand!

[@norabradley9108]

@@andrewcharles5575 😂

[@jamc9498]

way t0 g0 eugine

[@jamc9498]

please g0 have 5 apple danish f0r me in Calif0rnia...jane

[@Forest_Fifer]

Greggs went through a phase of buying up other bakeries. I used to work in Glasgow and there seemed to be a Greggs every 100 yards, because of all the shops they'd just rebranded.

[@stevenmclaren2730]

Just a phase?

[@heskeyisgod8039]

Great video Alanna! We only had our first Greggs open a couple of years ago in Plymouth. I think they were always wary of the many cornish pasty shops we have lol.

[@mickyfinn1948]

Greggs is a life saver to me. Many times I have been in London or Liverpool on a cold wet day and just searched out a Greggs for a hot sausage-roll and coffee, (hot coffee), and been revitalised! Lol Its quick and cheap too, so what's not to like? Love your reactions too! 🙏

[@SteveMikre44]

Love the new series! Looking forward to the next installment...🇬🇧

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

More to come!

[@antygod]

I did my undergrad in Newcastle, the home of Greggs, so there is one every few hundred metres in the centre. Greggs pasties are better tepid or cold

[@M05000583]

I'm not sure you can beat the caramel custard doughnut from greggs if you ever do part 2 sweet things from greggs, this is one to try.

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

I honestly never thought about the donuts but they seem to be pretty popular in the comments!

[@M05000583]

I mean there is 2 counter’s for a reason😂 you haven’t even experienced half the shop yet 👍

[@Talkathon408]

those things were around in the early 90s in Warrens in the West Country. I've tried the Greggs ones and they ain't great in comparison sadly. The one Warrens do these days look fancier but they're very similar to 90s ones and much better than Greggs. The Greggs one just have a very cheapy vibe but then Warrens is expensive these days. They weren't in the early 90s though.

[@Potatobrains_]

As the wise men of AC/DC once said: "It's a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll!" Wise, wise men.

[@enemde3025]

Best quote of the day mate.👍 Sex and drugs and sausage rolls.

[@Choppy698]

Hiya Mike, I've just finished Brian Johnsons book, it was a bloody good read

[@chrissie3742]

It really is, twenty minutes into town!

[@bigal3055]

And as Kiss once said, God gave sausage rolls to you.

[@bobbarford]

Or, as The Stones say "I know, they're only sausage rolls but I like em".

[@indigoflow6525]

I went to Greggs this morning, a bacon roll, sausage roll and coffee. Yum yum in my tum

[@iainmalcolm9583]

Iceland (shop not country) do a range of frozen Greggs. My go to is the Cheese & Bacon Wrap. A slice of cheese, a rasher of bacon with a folded block of puff pastry. Pretty much covers all the essential food groups in a single serving.

[@johnross2924]

Their fruit pasty range is nice too

[@martineyles]

Completely forgot about the bacon and cheese wrap! Ps. nice disambiguation.

[@CowmanUK]

Never been to an Iceland but that sounds delicious. I think I'll check that out.

[@iainmalcolm9583]

@@CowmanUK Iceland started with just frozen food (hence the name). They have expanded into other grocery items and also trade as 'Food Warehouse'. I would liken them to ALDI or LIDL. Cheaper than the big supermarkets and some good quality items.

[@barneylaurance1865]

And it's now the only place you can get the vegan steak bakes.

[@kurtcraig3421]

WOW alanna not giving a f about people being around while vlogging. this is a milestone in our history. that guy coughing up lumps outside of a greggs. very apt.

[@tubeWyrme]

I like to order a sausage roll, with a sausage roll on the side, and I enjoy a sausage roll for a starter, before rounding off the meal with a lovely desert sausage roll

[@Dan-zb7vn]

Greggs are a British icon,we couldn't live without them 🤔😋 cheers Alana great video!

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

Thanks so much!

[@jamesdocker4402]

As a greggs employee I can truthfully say they look after their employees and are one of the best places you could work.

[@stevenmclaren2730]

That's not true

[@garywallace8521]

At this time of year my favourite is Greggs Festive slice, give it a try!

[@howardkey1639]

Greggs are okay, a UK institution I guess, always good in an emergency when you need something quick to eat in when you are in a hurry. You can't beat a good old sausage roll followed by either an Iced bun or a Custard tart or two. Loved the video Alanna and the consumer research, I now have a craving for a sausage roll. 😀😀😀

[@tonymarsh1369]

Never seen a Greggs as there isn't one here on the Isle of Wight, mind you we are so far behind the times we only got our first Burger King a couple of years ago.

[@daveelliott5855]

What you need to do is get yersel upto Newcastle upon Tyne and get some Greggs stottie cakes and fill um with Ham and pease pudding add a tad of salt, its geet canny like As for Greggs in general its very good and tasty for mass produced food ideal to fill a hole. Keep the good vlogs coming 🙏👍

[@BG-hy6pe]

sounds like this series is gonna be great! great start to it too

[@jruz1738]

Yeah it's usually the breakfast deal for me too, a cappuccino and bacon & sausage bap with brown sauce to start the day.

[@WMD4929]

It was the previous CEO that turned Greggs from a bakery which happened to do baked goods into a food-to-go business, to great success. I see comments about using a local bakery instead but I don't have one. It used to be the Greggs but, for bread, it couldn't really compete with the nearby supermarket (which also does sausage rolls, but they're shite).

[@martinlaffey328]

I'm biased because I'm a Geordie and Gregg's was born on Tyneside so I grew up with it and I love it.

[@LeeRoughead]

When I was a student decades ago I worked at Carricks during the summers :) 'Steak' scotch pie was one of my favourites.

[@dank9561]

Leeds city centre has about 7 Greggs outlets within a 10 minute walk of each other. 3 of them are literally around the corner from each other. Also happy 7 year British-versary.

[@Derek-mz2bl]

They also have a factory/regional distribution centre there too i go there often since i deliver the stuff from Newcastle (Head Office) often,,Leeds make all the creams and donughts :)

[@jamc9498]

Merry Christmas and happy new year T0 ALL Y0U W0RKING AT GREGGS, AND TO THE 0wners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@TinaR622]

Greggs is great value for a quick cuppa tea or coffee and their sweet treats are good too 👍👍😊

[@eze8970]

Thanks Alanna, it's the law that you have to eat something from Greggs at least once in your life! 🙏🙏

[@neilrendell5630]

I love their spicy chicken nougats they do in batter

[@marcosmagic1983]

Best thing about Greggs is your getting the same taste & product every time you order which can’t always be said for Café or the local Bakery, plus greggs is probably half the price at least.

[@squigmcguigan8965]

I prefer independent baker. But i work all over the country & can rely Greggs for quick & convenient food. Their Tomato soup is the best anywhere! & I mean Anywhere!! Try a Sausage roll dipped it Greggs Tomato soup. Thats my fav.

[@janr2133]

Thank you for your ‘Yorkshire pudding’ bake!! I have wanted to make them and had no clue what pan to use and the ingredients etc. I’ve ordered the pans and can’t wait to try making them soon!!

[@kenc6748]

Had a festive bake this morning after following she who must be obeyed around Tesco, love the steak bakes.

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

Ooh what's in a festive bake?? I saw a few of those but haven't tried it yet

[@kurtcraig3421]

your comment gave me supermaket ptsd. i feel you bro.

[@kenc6748]

@@AdventuresAndNaps Chicken, sage & onion stuffing and just a touch of cranberry. They only sell them at this time of year, obviously, but i believe you can get Frozen Gregg's ready to bake pastries from Iceland. Another great Vid, keep em coming.

[@BigDave1965]

Greggs is great especially the breakfast deal other than that Steak bakes. Greggs is now available on a lot of motorway service stations offering affordable food

[@MillsyLM]

I worked for Greggs for 6 years from 1996-2002 most of them as a shop manager. They have changed beyond all recognition from my days though.

[@MikeRees]

Can you get better than a steak bake? Yes, but you'd have to alter the conditions set at 1:20 so that you could've bought the festive bake. Arguably wouldn't even need to do that since I'd choose a cheese and onion bake or a sausage, bean and cheese melt over a steak bake. Either way I also fall on the Love It side of Greggs. Just keep the festive bake's supremacy in mind next time ;)

[@gibsonms]

*This scale is absolutely raving mental and wildly out of control. Just when “seven out of seven” on the first one hasn’t thrown you enough, BANG, in she comes with “four rectangles out of four”. And then she has the coffee.*

[@martingibbs1179]

Love Greggs its a nice quick lunch and from a business model its really good. Everything is baked fresh each day and what ever is left over at end of day is supposedly donated to charities like homeless shelters. Not that there's much left over at the end of the day I find if I go at end of the day a lot of options are already sold out.

[@Barbarapape]

My neighbour works for Greggs delivering supplies to their shops. The free samples are great, and i have to agree regarding the Chicken vs Steak slices the Steak one wins it for me too. No town or city is complete without a Greggs for those must have snacks.

[@billmayor8567]

A few years ago I tried greggs vegetable bake which was quite nice.

[@jruz1738]

Addendum: I place Greggs coffee somewhere between Starbucks and Costa. I really don't like Starbucks but love Costa, Cafe Nero is great too. A high Street coffee reaction would be a great video I think 🤔

[@flooglebinder3493]

Loving the random score-scales……never change, Alanna 😉

[@andycapp3499]

It nice to see you out and about, makes a change from the same little corner of the kitchen. ( wonder if it'll become as famous as the grey sofa 🧐). Never been to a Greg's so I can't comment on what it's like. Nice vid though.

[@Choppy698]

Hiya Alanna, I don't mind Greggs Bakery, Greggs were founded in Newcastle Upon Tyne, not too sure when, it's not my favourite, we've got a Butchers in Whitehaven called Haighs, the sausage rolls are much larger but its costs a little more than what Greggs have got, the Cheese and Onion slice's turn to slop once you've had 2 bites out of it, that's for our north American cousins, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

[@lottie2525]

Love, love, love it. My go to is the cheese and onion bake or the vegan sausage roll (wow game changer) accompanied by their milk chocolate cookie.

[@garypltn69]

love Gregg's sausage rolls and steak bake is always good must try that coffee when i see it love the new series

[@MS-19]

A new series that nobody asked for, perhaps - but we're glad to have it from you all the same! Greggs isn't one that I patronise, so I watch your review without any bias for or against their products. Since they're a chain rather than an independent catering outlet, I wouldn't favour them over the latter - you and I are cut from the same cloth on that one, Alanna, no doubt about it! However, based upon this, I would consider trying them in a real pinch. What next for this series? I look forward to finding out!

[@derekmiles7358]

Great video Alanna love greggs steak bake sausage roll jam doughnut bacon and cheese wrap yum yum yum ❤️

[@Bearfacecat]

Love the new angle. One of the best things about Greggs is mingling with the salt of the earth outside ☺

[@tonyorome]

Good to find somewhere that the big issues of the day are being debated. OK hat in the ring, steak and chicken bakes are far too salty but the cheese and onion is sheer joy in a paper bag. Our Greggs in central Manchester opens at 4am it's next to the train station so perfect for home going clubbers and there are always queues. They really know their target market

[@shanehill3804]

I just came back from greggs and this shows up, eyyyy I'm not surprised lol ~addicted~

[@Paul-bc6de]

£1.20 for a sausage roll... they used to do 4 for that price!! never been the same since the name change from Thurstons. They did THEE best cornish pasty ever (cant call it that now of course)

[@rebrox6545]

I use that Greggs all the time, as I work in Rainham, I always get Belgium iced buns

[@TheCorek1949]

Trying to work out where Greggs was in Rainham, then I saw the Tesco store sign. Got it. So that's where it is. Wetherspoon is easier to find.

[@andrewturner1649]

Good for the price - loved the beef and veg pasty - the vegan sausage roll is a great advert for staying a meat eater

[@Bluedex2011]

Love your outside reporting. I now need to go to Greggs immediately to get me one of those steak bakes, it looked deeeeelicious ! 😃

[@keithweelands5822]

Love my greggs corned beef bake and also love stoties (for the non geordies a stotie is a type of flay bread only available in the North east of England)

[@jonnya4209]

Thank god! As a home town export, these assessments of Greggs can be taken a bit personally.

[@johnwatson5235]

I knew you'd like Gregg's Alanna so do I. Up here in the North East its the only place you can get proper stottie,it's a large round flat bread great for filling with bacon sausage and egg. I don't know if they'll do them down there but if they do I'd give it a try. I'm off to Gregg's now you've got me starving! 😋

[@gojohnniegogo]

It's definitely at least a rung up the ladder from Spoons! I don't mind a Greggs but I wouldn't say I love it.

[@paulblackhurst7583]

I live in the USA now and I miss Gregg's but a steak bake is square to go on cheese butty with brown sauce Best hangover cure lol Love the chanel Canuck

[@chooeyj8509]

New Adventure and Naps series, love it :)

[@Forest_Fifer]

Steak bake and custard doughnut - classic combo. Sausage rolls are good if they're hot. The tandoori chicken baguette is also good.

[@ruthfoley2580]

Greggs is great for food that is fresh & quick. In my town we also have pound bakery & in Yorkshire they have Thomas The Baker. All of which are darn good. How did you go to greggs & not get a cake/pastry/donut?

[@middlesbrough123]

There Cornish pasties we’re the best but for some reason they stopped doing them yrs ago 🥴

[@RuneRelic]

Nothing quite as bad as dunking a warm greggs sausage roll in cold ketchup. Gorgeous. 😁 Failing that, the old cornish pasties or bakes....lovely.

[@victordevonshire807]

Best snack in the morning is a bacon roll in a crusty roll with Daddies sauce, black pepper and English mustard. And a lovely strong cup of coffee. 👌❤

[@derekmeade6350]

What’s not to love? A big fan of their breakfast rolls and their black coffee! 👍

[@Messyhit]

Greggs is not so bad and there’s always one handy no matter where you are in the UK, but this is the commercial side of bakery foods. This brand came from the little shops that every town and city had in the uk, we still have a lot of the wee private bakers in Scotland and I would visit them before Greggs if one’s handy. My goto is defo sausage rolls although they are not as good as they once were, great video thanks

[@brettthomas7927]

Ham and cheese toasties are sooooo good and the yum yum are really good

[@Phiyedough]

I'm like you, they are not the best but I would still get lunch there if that was what there was. It is an old established bakery in Newcastle but I think they only became a national firm within about the last 15 years or so. I do tend to get a sausage roll but also some kind of cake such as bread pudding, an Eccles cake or a doughnut.

[@deanstuart8012]

When I moved to the south coast in the mid 90s there were no Gregg's down here. The cheapest cheese and onion pasty in a local bakery was £1.00, whereas in Gregg's in Durham it was 41p. I had worked in London before moving here and there was a Gregg's in Wandsworth, where a cheese and onion pasty was 55p. I thought that I was being ripped off. One Christmas after visiting home I brought a load of Gregg's pasties and stotties back for my poor, deprived southern friends to try.

[@what_im_eatin_uk]

Love it. My goto order sausage bean and cheese melt and a empire biscuit

[@adrianmcgrath1984]

Having been out of the UK for years, and with the wonderful bakery that once existed in a particular town, I took my daughters to a Greg’s - we all wanted a pasty. We each had a different pasty. We all took one bite and threw the rest in the bin. It was bloody awful.

[@BipoIarbear]

If they are warm it's ok but they are never warm😩

[@paulleach3612]

See, that's where you went wrong. You went to Greg's. Greg cant bake. You need to go to Greggs.

[@TheDeejaydex]

The bakes are a shadow of their former selves nowadays, but the sausage roll does still reign supreme.

[@Trebor74]

Greg's terrible.

[@iainholmes2735]

For some reason I always go there when I'm with my sis in Scotland. She loves the breakfast type items. When you're really peckish there's nothing like a steak bake n coffee.

[@Rahvin01]

Sittingbourne, Kent is about to get a Greggs drive-thru. We’re moving up in the world…

[@LuvNickynGina4ever]

You could tell from the 1st bite of that steak bake, you were in heaven!! 😂 you thoroughly enjoyed that 😀

[@iancomputerscomputerrepair8944]

Hi Alanna, If I visit a Greggs, I always order a "Steak Bake" that is my personal favourite. Closely followed by a "Chicken Bake".

[@AdventuresAndNaps]

Great choices!

[@Malfie657]

I love Greggs and I don't care who knows it! My order of preference would be 1) Bacon and Cheese wrap (only when it's so hot it nearly burns your mouth) 2) Chicken Bake 3) Sausage Rolls (but only in pairs...one is never enough!). I don't think I've ever bought anything that wasn't savoury though, or a salad or sarnie either because however good Greggs are at being a bakery, they're pretty average at the rest!! Great video Alanna.

[@Alan_Mac]

Fun vid and love to see you out and about. Still think Greggs, at best, is sub-par. "It's not that great but I'll drink it" sums it up.

[@brianjohnston3707]

I've not had a greggs in years' cheese and onion pasty was my fav, in fact think ill go tomorrow 😁

[@chrisreilly477]

I'd agree that the Sausage Roll is pretty much the signature dish and its been recently joined by the Steak Bake. If you are in Scotland you also HAVE to try the Gregg's Scotch Pie.

[@cactusflowerrr]

That sausage roll 🤤 I mean, not that I’ve ever had one, but it’s pastry and sausage. Sign me up!

[@hightensionlabs]

Greggs sausage roll is the best and funny enough I go to the same one either that or Sittingbourne or Sheppey 😃👍❤️

[@russellball1248]

Don't feed the pigeons with the sausage roll!, that's called cannibalism hahahah 😆

[@dereknewbury163]

Good to see getting to the heart of modern British culture

[@jamc9498]

even fr0m calif0rnia,, L0ve Newbury, been t0 greggs there

[@debbradley5769]

I’m now craving a sausage roll, though it has to be just the right temperature, can’t have it too hot or too cold!

[@Sr19769p]

Correct, Deb! I'm craving one as well now and I had a massive curry only hours ago...

[@Bejewelle88]

Greggs recent clothing range in Primark did my head in. I felt sorry for any tourist with no idea who probably happily bought the stuff! Just a baffling collaboration! Fond of the edible stuff, though, when in the mood!

[@jamc9498]

i T00K my used tiny espress0 paper cup h0me t0 usa as a very f0nd mem0ry

[@xtraspecial4677]

We have 3 Greg's in Southend High Street and you can never get a seat cos there always full. Must be good !

[@bravemendiedhereuk3597]

Gregg's Festive Bake - Only available in December each year. Food of the gods!

[@parallaxview6770]

Corn beef pasty and the Mince pie are the goat . Also Russian cake when they used to do it . Grab a stottie if they do em down south

[@alanshepherd4304]

For a mass baker it is really rather good! I was late to the Gregg's menu but the quality is surprisingly very, very good!!😁😁🇬🇧

[@markprior2278]

They have only recently opened a shop in my hometown but I'm still yet to try Greggs, but your making me very hungry.

[@josephmwilliams6754]

If you"re on the go a coffee and a sausage roll is a great way to fill that hunger pang