Luke Johnson announces opening of new Gail's bakery

The announcement of the new opening was made earlier today (26 May) via Twitter by hospitality entrepreneur and Gail's backer Luke Johnson.

In a Tweet​​, Johnson, who is chairman of private equity firm Risk Capital Partners and also currently backs operators including All Star Lanes and Lussmanns Sustainable Fish & Grill, said: "Very excited to announce that we are opening a brand new Gail’s bakery this Friday in Windsor! Bugger the crisis - we advance! Onwards!"

While Johnson says the bakery is due to open this Friday (29 May), the Gail's website has it scheduled to open next Tuesday (2 June).

Throughout the Coronavirus crisis, Johnson has consistently been a vocal sceptic of the lockdown, and recently said​​ that he feared its financial impact was not being taken into account in Britain.

Speaking earlier this month on BBC’s Question Time, ​Johnson said he believed more deaths would come from the collateral damage generated by the lockdown, than by the virus itself.

“We have to get things a bit into context,” he said.

“Every death is tragic, but we are entering the largest recession for 300 years. The Bank of England says the economy will shrink by 14%, that’s the equivalent of two recessions. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we see two million more unemployed people within a year.

“The collateral damage of this lockdown has to be taken into account. Very soon I believe lockdown will be causing more deaths than the virus.” 

Gail's, which celebrates its 15th birthday this year, currently operates around 60 sites across the UK, with much of its estate remaining open for takeaway and delivery throughout the Coronavirus lockdown.