Percy Ingle - A Gregg's look alike

[Adrian Essex]

Percy Ingle, a baker has opened in what was Figo's.

Is ti not indistinguishable for Gregg's with reasonably pleasant looking but cotton woolly loaves and brightly coloured pink icing on its sponge fingers, and a cold cupboard with fizzy drinks?

[Nick Whiteley]

I saw this opening last month and thought, "I give it three months". The trouble is, with it being a chain, it has the other branches in its business to support it. However, on a very busy Saturday afternoon in crouch end last week, I walked past this ridiculously placed, cheap looking, Gregg's wannabe. The neighbouring fish mongers had pretty much sold out of fish and the charity shop was rammed. The hustle and bustle outside Budgens was heaving. I was quietly contented to see the distinct lack of trade going on inside. The lady wasn't even behind the counter, she was in the back chilling out. Although, all that wasted food bugged me.

Now look. I don't like being 'snooty' about things. But, who exactly thought that this was a good business decision? Someone who has never been to crouch end? did they look on a map of vacant properties in affluent areas and say, "one there, one there and one there." How could they have not looked across the road and seen about seven different bakers. STOP. Sorry, I'm stopping myself from ranting.

So, yeh. I give it a couple more months before they shut up shop and leave the premises vacant again.