Relocated Greggs opens in Pontypool after NHS objection
It confirmed the store has opened on Friday, May 23.
Gwent's Aneurin Bevan University Health Board attempted to thwart the expansion by objecting to the firm's application to change the use class of the building at 13 to 15 George Street which is thought was last occupied by Superdrug.
The objections were however ruled out by Torfaen Borough Council's planning department which said relocation of the store wouldn't mean there are too many food and drink outlets and neither would its selection of savoury goods such as the Steak Bake and sweat treats harm the 'vitality' of the town centre.
Planning officer Tom Braithwaite said the type of goods sold couldn't determine the application as it was for mixed retail and food and drink uses so could be operated by any business in those use classes. His report stated: 'The nature of the occupier and the goods that they sell in this instance cannot prejudice the favourable determination of this application, and on balance does not warrant refusal of the scheme presented.'
The health board also said the shop would be close to schools but Mr Braithwaite said there is limited power to address concern about fast food outlets being close to schools.
The new larger store in George Street, that also has indoor seating, will open from 6.30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 6pm on Sundays and the chain said it has created one additional job. Greggs had 12 staff at its previous shop on George Street.
Gillian Long, retail operations director for Greggs, said: 'We're excited to be welcoming customers to our new and improved shop in Pontypool, with one new member joining the existing team. We look forward to providing customers with a modern, convenient new place to experience their Greggs favourites.'
When it submitted its planning application the firm stated 40 per cent of its range of products, in 2023, were 'healthier options' that contain fewer than 400 calories and with no red traffic lights, based on the UK Government's voluntary nutrition labelling scheme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
The best supermarket bakery revealed – it beats Greggs on both price and taste
THERE is nothing like tucking into a loaf of freshly baked bread or croissants straight out of the oven. Demand for fresh bakery goods has been growing among shoppers as households delight in little indulgences. Greggs has become the nation's go to bakery for a treat for many shoppers. But supermarket offering rival the chain in both taste and price. We decided to put four products to the test from each of the bakeries and assess based on taste and value to give an overall score. From each, I tried to buy one jam doughnut, one croissant, one white bread roll, and one small white baguette. We look at the innovative products, plus value for money that supermarkets are offering customers. Here are how the supermarket bakeries stand up. Greggs Doughnut, £1.05 Croissant, £1.35 9 Although not a supermarket, Greggs is the heavy-weight high street bakery. Earlier this year, the business said sales grew by 7% to more than £1billion for the half-year with new stores continually opening. As well as lunch-time favourites such as sausage rolls and sandwiches the chain sells all the bakery staples. Plain rolls and baguettes are not on the standard menu. We found the doughnut was lacking a little in sugar dusting and wasn't evenly spread. At £1.35 for a single it's far more expensive than the supermarket options, which start at 26p. You don't select your own doughnuts, and the one given to me was slightly damaged on top, plus it tasted very bread-like. I also found the jam lacking in flavour and tasted quite artificial. One of my least favourites out of the test. The bakery sells croissants but only until 11am, and as I arrived after, I missed out. Asda Doughnuts, £1.38 for a pack of five, 27p each Croissant, £1.06 for a pack of two, 53p each Baguette, £1.34 9 The supermarket has been rolling out single serve fixtures to in-store bakeries. There are 23 items to choose from including all the bakery favourites you'd expect to find, such as cinnamon buns and cheese twist. Items are not baked in-store and instead delivered each day. The supermarket is an affordable option for shoppers beating discounter Lidl on price on selected staples including croissants priced at 53p. There was only a bigger sized baguette available to buy - but it was crusty and very fresh. However, the croissant was not flaky enough. And the doughnuts were tasty but a little sticky for my liking. There weren't any fresh white rolls available to buy on the day. Lidl Doughnut, 49p Croissant, 59p Bread roll, 29p Baguette, 39p Lidl has overtaken Tesco in terms of market share, according to recent data. The supermarket is also most popular among shoppers going by online searches which consistently beat the competition. New bakery items are regularly added. Most recently, the supermarket had a viral hit with its new birthday cake bun for 79p. The caramel suisse is another recent addition to the supermarket's offering that has won over fans. Earlier this year, the supermarket cut the price on 11 bakery items and now sells its croissants for a palatable 59p and crusty white rolls for 29p each. The supermarket delivers a winning combination of great value, innovative new products and tasty treats. The croissant was tasty but seemed as though it had been in the oven a minute or two too long, as was slightly more browned than i would have liked. The baguette was narrow so not much soft bready part inside. I would have preferred it a little more crusty on the outside. The doughnut was powdered sugar but I think a granulated sugar works better. Plus, they were a little stingy with the jam on the inside. The roll was tasty and chewy on the outside with a soft middle. Morrisons Croissants, 50p Bread roll, 50p Baguette, 80p Morrisons says it's the only major UK supermarket where bread, rolls, and doughnuts are made from scratch in more than 400 of its supermarkets every day. This is on top of pastries and cookies and hand-filled cream cakes and also offers 27 varieties of freshly baked bread. Given the supermarket pride in its in-store bakeries, I was frankly a little disappointed. There were no jam doughnuts in the store I visited, which appeared to be related to a problem with machinery, so couldn't include them in the test. The baguette was a good size and tasted reasonably fresh but not like it had come out of the oven that morning. The croissant was on the smaller side and soft on the outside. And the roll was definitely going tougher and quite hard on the outside, and I didn't like the taste either. Sainsbury's Doughnuts, £1.30 for a pack of five, 26p each Croissant, £1.20 Bread roll, 50p Baguette, 60p 9 Sainsbury's has pulled back from baking all items in-store from scratch, finishing off selected items instead. The supermarket offers a good selection of products from everyday loaves to cookies, muffins and cake slices. It also regularly refreshes its offering and has recently introduced an 'Under the Sea gingerbread man, £1, as well as rainbow cookies, £1.50, and a giraffe baton, 80p. The crusty roll was excellent and tasted very fresh. The croissant was a touch on the expensive side, but it was perfectly crisp and flaky on the outside well-sized, and soft and moist on the inside. Definitely the winning croissant, for me. The baguette was slim but tasty. The doughnuts were also a winner with a good amount of zingy jam and plenty of granulated sugar. Although you have to buy a five-pack of doughnuts, they work out at reasonable 26p each - cheaper than Lidl. Overall lip-smackingly good and generally well priced too. My go-to bakery choice for future. Tesco Doughnuts, £1.30 for a pack of five, 26p each Croissant, £1.20 Bread roll, 80p Baguette, 80p 9 Selected Tesco bakeries bake items from scratch though the majority of bakeries "finish" items in-store. It's not the cheapest for staples, but it matches rival Sainbury's on the croissant and doughnuts. The supermarket was my favourite croissant, crunchy flaky and perfectly cooked, it tasted really fresh. I was also happy with the freshness of the roll and baguette and both were a good size. The doughnut was a little sticky on the outside but very soft dough, almost melt in the mouth and plenty of jam. Value: 3 Taste: 4 Overall score: 7 Waitrose Croissants, £1.30 Bread roll, 50p Baguette, 85p Waitrose has bakeries in supermarkets across the country. With nearly 80 options to choose from, the brand said customers are currently loving sourdough loaves. Sadly, there were no jam doughnuts in store that day. A member of staff informed me they'd not been able to order the bags for packaging. However, the croissant was crumbly on the outside and tasted good with a rich buttery flavour. The baguette was perfectly fine albeit slightly soft on the outside. The roll was very good soft and chewy on the outside and tasted fresh. However, it was the most expensive out of all the croissants. The produce was a good middling choice but nothing really stood out. Marks & Spencer Doughnuts, £1.10 for a pack of four, 27p each Croissant, £1.25 Baguette, 80p 9 You'll find up to 110 products in M&S in-store bakeries. There are 600 across the country. Like most supermarkets, M&S hand finishes the goods in store rather than baking from scratch. The baguette was nice and thick, and tasted lovely and fresh with a soft white inside. The doughnuts were the smallest sized out of all the supermarkets but were very tasty. There was plenty of sugar and jam, plus I liked that the dough itself had a slightly crisp outside while being fluffy on the inside. The croissant was tasty as well as being soft flaky and a decent size. How to save on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
Britney Spears' iconic Fantasy perfume is on sale for just £4.33 - here's how to get it
Fans of Britney Spears' vibrant and affordable perfume, Fantasy, are in for a treat as we've found a nifty way to get a bottle for just £4.33. With a 100ml bottle currently reduced on sale at Superdrug for £20, instead of £22, this equates to a saving of £17.67. Outperforming current discounts at the likes of Argos, where the perfume is reduced to £16.67, The Fragrance Shop's £18 offer, and Boots' £24.50 price, the Superdrug deal is only accessible when purchased via the deals site TopCashback. This website is a nifty money-saving platform that helps shoppers earn cashback on eligible purchases, when bought through the site. To get the Britney Spears perfume for less, shoppers must sign up here as a new member to TopCashback. Once signed up, search for Superdrug in TopCashback's website and follow the link through. Then simply search for Britney Spears' Fantasy Eau de Parfum and checkout. Once purchased, new members will earn a £15 bonus (on their first purchase over £15) as well as a certain percentage for cashback. This means that while shoppers will have to pay £20 at the checkout for the Britney perfume from Superdrug, within seven working days, they'll receive the £15 bonus in their TopCashback account ready for withdrawal. After all deductions, this means that the Britney Spears Fantasty perfume will cost £4.33 for new members. The Britney Spears Fantasy Eau de Parfum is the singer's second fragrance and is a popular choice amongst beauty buffs. With its playful, sweet scent, it has notes of jasmine petals, white chocolate orchid, red lychee, cupcake accord and creamy musk. Superdrug's website shares how the perfume 'has been created for women who are seductive, charming and elusive, its about loves ability to overwhelm you when you least expect it.' The fragrance arrives in a vibrant pink bottle whose cap and neck features sparkly rings, which is said to 'represent the pursuit of everlasting love' - certainly a bottle that can be proudly displayed for all to admire. Its bottle design competes with that of Jimmy Choo's Blossom Eau De Parfum, which arrives in a bottle with a standout pink ombre design (£27), whilst Valentino's Born In Roma Donna Extradose boasts a funky textured bottle in a deep magenta shade with contrasting black lid, on sale for £61.60. Boasting a 4.6 star rating, the fragrance has won over numerous customers, with one person raving: "I've bought this for a few years now and although it is a bit embarrassing to say you're wearing a Britney Spears perfume at 34 years old, it smells so good on me and I always get complimented which is also nice obviously! I can even smell late into the night and the next morning. I always buy when on offer. Do it!". Another customer simply commented: "Such a lovely smelling perfume, not too overpowering, just perfect. "I've always loved this scent by Britney Spears. The original fantasy perfume. Please don't ever discontinue this one. It's sweet but not overly sweet and not overpowering. Last hours and it's super affordable too and the bottle it's cute," remarked a third. Whilst most people enjoyed the fragrance, one person found it slightly too subtle for their liking, commenting: "As soon as you spray it's a very weak smell... so I sprayed even more, you cannot even smell after one minute!" However, for the most part, people have praised its staying power, with many saying it endures for hours. "I bought this perfume about five years ago and never looked back. Good price (especially on sale) and every time I wear it people ask 'what is your perfume your wearing' and I would have put it on two or three hours before," one person said, echoing the praise for its longevity.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Huge celeb star is opening new UK bakery that's ‘better than Greggs' with ENORMOUS sausage rolls & doughnuts galore
Family bakery with bold fans and famous backer expands to new town WHEAT IT AND WEEP Huge celeb star is opening new UK bakery that's 'better than Greggs' with ENORMOUS sausage rolls & doughnuts galore Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BAKERY hailed by fans as 'better than Greggs' is opening a brand new branch in West Sussex – and it's serving up giant sausage rolls and doughnuts galore. The latest Coughlans Bakery is set to open in Horsham on Friday, August 22. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The Weakest Link host even rolled up his sleeves to serve behind the counter in Crawley and Dorking earlier this year Credit: BBC 3 A small sausage roll at Coughlans costs £2.05, compared to £1.65 at Greggs Credit: Getty The business is part-owned by local comedy star Romesh Ranganathan, who joined the family firm in 2024. In a video posted to Facebook, Sean said: 'Exciting news! We've just picked up the keys to a new shop.' "We've just picked up the keys to a new shop,' adding: 'We've wanted to come to Horsham for a long time. "We've got family down here and love this place.' The new site will be located at 102 Blackbridge Lane, and Sean described it as a 'quirky little site' that he hopes will be a welcome addition to the community. 'We're all about community and we love little community shops,' he told the County Times. The opening marks a full year since the family-run bakery launched its first Sussex branch in Maidenbower, Crawley, and the team say they've had their eyes on Horsham ever since. Coughlans, founded in Thornton Heath, south London, back in 1937, has grown into a fan-favourite across the south-east. Despite flying under the radar for years, it now boasts 31 shops and a loyal following. The bakery is famous for its enormous sausage rolls, eye-popping doughnuts, indulgent cakes, and extensive vegan range – all made fresh daily using traditional recipes passed down through three generations of the Coughlan family. Greggs Steak & Cheese roll appeal Romesh joined the business in 2024 after falling in love with the bakery's values – and its baked goods. Not content with just investing, the Weakest Link host rolled up his sleeves and served behind the counter at both the Crawley and Dorking shops earlier this year. Sean said: 'He likes to get stuck in.' Romesh, who lives locally, said at the time: 'I'm the most excited about this announcement because there is something that I've wanted to get involved with for a long, long time and it is... Coughlan's Bakery.' He joked alongside Sean in a clip: 'I'm gonna be doing more baking, he's going to be doing more stand-up comedy.' Coughlans has earned cult status online, with fans on social media boldly claiming its sausage rolls are 'better than Greggs'. One fan said they 's**t all over Greggs,' while others insisted the taste and size are in a different league. Still, customers do pay more for the artisan goods. A small sausage roll at Coughlans costs £2.05, compared to £1.65 at Greggs. Other items, like the tuna mayo salad baguette, can also cost over a pound more. But many loyal customers say it's worth it. Despite its rapid growth, Sean says the bakery is still rooted in the same values Jack Coughlan started with: good-quality handmade food, supporting local suppliers, and putting community first. Full list of Coughlans Bakery branches Addiscombe Banstead Beckenham Caterham, Chaldon Road Caterham, Croydon Road Chessington Chipstead Coulsdon Crawley Croydon, Brighton Road Croydon, London Road Croydon, High Street Dorking Epsom Forestdale Godstone Horley Lingfield Kingswood Nork Old Coulsdon Oxted Purley Reigate Selsdon Stoneleigh Wallington Wallington Warlingham Westerham West Wickham
