Gail’s opens first airport bakery at Gatwick, sells gifts for travelers

Gail’s, the London-born cafe and bakery chain, has opened its first airport location, a new outpost at London Gatwick’s South Terminal. The store invites travelers to enjoy Gail’s handcrafted baked goods and specialty coffee before boarding, and to browse an exclusive gifting range as part of the travel experience. The airline-ready offering marks a notable expansion for a brand that began with a single Hampstead shop and has since grown to more than 180 outlets across the United Kingdom.

The Gatwick location features a spacious seating area for diners and a grab-and-go counter for passengers in a hurry. Breakfast items, alongside signature pastries, sandwiches, salads, sweet treats, and a full suite of hot and cold made-to-order drinks, are on the menu. Gail’s announced the development on its Instagram page, framing the airport outlet as a chance to enjoy a “GAIL’s croissant at 30,000 feet” before take-off. The social post echoed the reception of fans, with some calling the opening a game changer and others noting it as a compelling reason to travel from LGW.

Gatwick’s South Terminal dining options now include Gail’s alongside a larger mix of high-street and travel-focused brands. The airport, which hosts multiple food and beverage operators, has long blended local and national outlets to reflect consumer demand. Last year, Gatwick opened Sussex House, an eatery spotlighting local produce such as Bush Barn Farm’s elderflower and rhubarb cordial and Surrey’s Silly Moo Cider, underscoring the airport’s push to tie meals to regional producers.

Nick Ayerst, Gail’s Managing Director, welcomed the new airport location as a continuation of the brand’s growth in transport hubs, saying, “We are thrilled to be opening our first airport location in London Gatwick’s South Terminal, building on the established success driven by new locations in London transport hubs. We’ve developed an extensive range to meet the specific needs of airport passengers and we look forward to sharing freshly baked, high-quality food and specialty coffee to those travelling through London Gatwick and beyond.”

The move comes amid ongoing debate about the impact of popular coffee and bakery brands on high streets and smaller independents. Critics have pointed to the broader debate over gentrification and its effect on local prices and resident choices. Earlier this year, a petition in Walthamstow sought to block Gail’s expansion on the town’s High Street amid concerns that new chain outlets could outcompete independent cafés. Still, Gail’s continues to emphasize its expansion strategy, stressing its aim to meet demand in high-footfall travel hubs while maintaining its craft-focused menu.

The Gatwick outpost is part of Gail’s broader effort to diversify beyond traditional city-centre locations and into travel channels where travelers seek quick, quality, and convenient options. As airports increasingly blend familiar high-street dining with local touches, Gail’s position in the travel dining mix reinforces the brand’s growth trajectory and its goal of reaching new customer segments during peak travel periods.