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Two lads are on a pilgrimage to review every Greggs in the UK
The Greggs devotees have traversed the length and breadth of the country doing what can only be described as God’s work. Here's what they said about Leeds...
Two enthusiastic Greggs fans are making their way around the country on a pilgrimage reviewing every bakery that they can find - and yes, of course, they've made it over to Leeds.
From West Sussex to Norfolk, Ledbury to Leeds, the Greggs devotees have traversed the length and breadth of the country doing what can only be described as God's work - seeking to review each and every branch, giving full reports along the way on every aspect of their experiences, and throwing in a few literary and biblical references along the way, just for laughs.
Each post goes into an extreme level of detail, with the reviewers (revealed by The Tab to be students Milo and Tom) soliloquizing on the highs, the lows and the bang-on-average parts of each experience - and some of their write-ups are, frankly, hilarious.
Image: Greggs Pilgrimage
The connoisseurs take the task seriously: giving numbered rankings of each bakery, taking those all-important aspects - staff, service, freshness, taste and temperature - and rating each out of ten, before giving an overall score.
As is to be expected Leeds has done pretty well, with an overall rating of 8/10.
Leeds is described as having a Greggs on 'every corner', with staff that 'smiled and were friendly', the duo note a 'good variety on offer' - with exception of one 'traumatised' sausage roll, which they avoid.
Opting for another - described as "flaky, possibly overly so, however still a good quality" despite being "boiling at one end and not as hot at the other. A totally new experience for a totally new store."
Imag: Greggs Pilgrimage
In another more recent review, this time tackling a Greggs in Brighton, the pair nod to Renaissance poet John Milton's 17th-century epic Paradise Lost - asserting that Milton was, like them, a fellow sausage roll aficionado.
One particularly brilliant line states: "[the poem] is considered to derive closely from the source material within the bible but a lesser known fact is that the widespread version of the poem actually borrows heavily from Milton’s undervalued earlier work: “Paradise Found”, and his previous career as a sausage roll aficionado.
It continues: "Milton was convinced that he had stumbled upon crumbly perfection. He warned the sausage roll could make heaven or hell, and discouraged deviation from the formula he acquired.
"Thankfully, there is one institute which upholds Milton’s faith and ensures his brilliant and timeless knowledge is not lost. For this we should be ever indebted. Viva la Greggs."
Suffice to say, it all makes for pretty great reading.
According to a report by The Tab, the pair have been on a mission to review every single Greggs in order to find the best for the past three years.
Described as "a lifelong vocation", the pair told the publisher that they'd worked out it would take them around 2 grand in sausage rolls and five Greggs' visits a day to tackle every site in a year.
Talk about commitment, though, they're still at it - with the latest post uploaded just four days ago.
The full Leeds review said:
"Leeds Greggs
"Each corner I turned a Greggs appeared! I stepped in and was filled with an overwhelming warming sensation. It was as if I was being defrosted from a long cold sleep. I was greeted by a smile as I plumbed for the usual - a sausage roll, I accompanied this delicacy with a chicken bake.
"The sausage roll was gleaming golden brown as I removed the bag. I could smell the familiar aroma swirl and swish about my nostrils like a cool breeze. It was flaky, possibly overly so, however still a good quality. It was well cooked, not greasy and the sausage meat was nicely done. My only real criticism which was less of a criticism just more of an observation was that it was two different temperatures. Boiling at one end and not as hot at the other. A totally new experience for a totally new store.
"The chicken bake was similar other than the resounding difference that it was chicken. The pastry was great, fresh and not to greasy. It flaked off the perfect amount. The only worry was the back bits in the middle as the picture shows. The innards were tasty, a great balance of creamy sauce and chicken.
"The chicken could have done with being left in about 30 seconds longer but I’m just being picky! It was a perfect temperature and a great taste. The staff smiled and were friendly. The variety on offer was good, however there was one very traumatised sausage roll on offer which thankfully I didn’t get (see picture).
"All in all it seems fresh and was a great experience!!
"Taste 9/10
"Temperature 8/10
"Freshness 8.5/10
"Variety 7.5/10
"Staff 7/10."
Overall 8/10".
One comment on the review simply states "I love Leeds!!!!" In that, I think we can all agree.
Don’t judge a book by its cover... or in this case, a musical by its posters.
Going in completely blind, I really didn’t know what to expect from Operation Mincemeat. In fact, after the first number, I found myself thinking, I’m not sure this is quite my cup of tea.
How wrong I was.
Watching Tuesday night’s performance at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, I was quickly proven wrong about what I thought a musical needed to be. There are no huge sets, endless costume changes, or hundreds of performers filling the stage. Instead, Operation Mincemeat delivers a genuinely funny, surprisingly heart-warming story with just five performers, while somehow teaching you a bit of history along the way.
If I had to sum this show up in two words? Belly laughter.
Based on the real-life British intelligence operation during the Second World War, the musical follows the unlikely group tasked with convincing Hitler that the Allies were planning to invade Greece rather than Sicily.
And honestly, if you didn’t already know it actually happened, you’d probably think someone had made it up. That ridiculousness is exactly what makes the show work. The comedy comes thick and fast, with characters, accents, and personalities constantly changing as the five-strong cast jump between roles.
And this is where the production really impressed me.The multi-roling is incredibly slick. A pair of glasses, a change in voice or a small shift in posture can completely transform a character, and somehow it never feels like a gimmick. Instead, it becomes part of the magic of the production. It’s a brilliant example of how much can be achieved on stage without throwing money at elaborate sets or costumes.
Credit: Matt CrockettCredit: Matt Crockett
But underneath all the comedy is where Operation Mincemeat really surprised me.
One of the standout performances for me came from Christian Andrews as Hester Leggatt. During ‘Roses’, Andrews completely captivates the audience while portraying an older woman writing about the experience of wives waiting for their loved ones away at war.
What makes the moment so effective is its simplicity. With little more than a pair of glasses, Andrews transforms into Hester, but there is never any sense that the character is being played for laughs. Instead, there is real care and respect in the performance.
Andrews captures the loneliness, vulnerability, and uncertainty of a woman whose life has been put on hold while her partner is away fighting. After so much laughter, the sudden change in tone really lands. For me, it was one of the clearest examples of the craftsmanship behind the show. Both the writing and performance manage to find genuine emotion without losing the production’s personality.
The music follows the same balance, moving between big, energetic numbers and quieter moments that give the characters room to breathe. It never feels like songs have been added simply because this happens to be a musical; they actually help tell the story.
And despite being based on a historical event, it never feels like a history lesson.
Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House / Credit: Matt Crockett
In fact, I left the theatre wanting to find out more about the real Operation Mincemeat, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give it and definitely will be watching the film very soon.
If you’re heading to the theatre expecting huge dance numbers, powerhouse ballads and elaborate sets, then this might not be the show for you. But if you want something different, something that will have you laughing at one of the strangest stories in British history while leaving you amazed at just how slick a production can be with only five cast members, then this is absolutely worth seeing.
What I initially thought wasn’t my cup of tea ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the evening.
Funny, clever, completely bonkers at times and unexpectedly moving, Operation Mincemeat proves you don’t need a massive production to make a big impression. I have seen a lot of theatre productions in my life, but I have never seen anything as slick as this production, and that is pure talent at its finest.
Sometimes, all you need is a ridiculous true story, five brilliant performers and a whole lot of belly laughs.
Featured Image - Matt Crockett (Supplied)
News
Retail giant Uniqlo delays opening date for new Leeds store
Clementine Hall
It's official, Uniqlo is making its way to Leeds. Well, it's about time isn't it?
You may remember last June that murmurings of Uniqlo opening in Leeds were happening.
The news spread after planning documents appeared for new ‘Uniqlo’ signage on the Store House building on Briggate.
We've been keeping our fingers crossed that the news was actually true, and it is.
Uniqlo themselves have confirmed that three new stores will be popping up across the UK over the next two years, with one of them being right here in Leeds.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Their first store of the roll-out opened in Birmingham's Bullring, followed by a new store in Bristol this year.
Leeds was also meant to open this year, but unfortunately, Uniqlo has announced things are delayed and its opening will be pushed into 2027.
The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site.
CGI mockups from firms Thirty One Design and Ink Associates include the glass fronted store with Uniqlo’s signature red signage hanging above the door and off the building.
These will be made from sheet metal with a “sprayed finish” – sounds pretty swanky if you ask us.
Uniqlo UK COO Alessandro Dudech stated: "Uniqlo remains committed to strengthening its presence within the UK retail sector by expanding both our physical store network and ecommerce capabilities nationwide.
"As part of this strategic initiative, we look forward to introducing Uniqlo to the communities and visitors in the North of England, at the new Leeds location and simultaneously reaching customers in the South West in Bristol's Cabot Circus.".
Uniqlo is known for its affordable and minimalist clothing, stocking everything from raincoats and puffer jackets to jeans and a wide range of accessories.
We’ll keep you updated on the timeframe, as to be honest we’re just as excited as you are to be welcoming Uniqlo to the high street.
Georgina Pellant -
28th January 2022 
