Before I begin this review, I'd like you to do a little leg work. Think of all the things that begin with the letter G. What springs to mind? Gardening... Gossip... Golf.... Geryl Gole??? For me, it is simply.... Gregg's!

My review today is on this institution which is said to be so indestructible, it can with stand even the greatest of floods, hurricanes and even hungry students on their dinner breaks.

If Charles Dickens was still alive today, I do believe he would concur "Gregg's the bakers, is an establishment of high esteem, (usually off the chicken bakes), in which one regularly visits on a daily basis, to satisfy ones festering appetite"... well, something like that!

The thing about Gregg's is, it's cheap, it's easy, and it's tasty. When in London, a similar lunchtime snack usually sets me back around £5, but in Gregg's you're talking pennies - not pounds. Everything is fresh and is made in store, and indeed the ovens are placed within view of the counter. There are also no sell by dates on any of the products because they are made and sold on the same day, so everything is very fresh.

There are currently over 1,400 Gregg's stores within the UK, with a further 600 planned. I think it's brilliant how in the north especially, you are never too far from a Gregg's. Indeed when searching the area around my uni "TS1", I found 15 Gregg's stores within walking distance!! I realise some may feel there are far too many stores, and that every high street looks the same, however I think they are simply catering for the demand of hungry shoppers, office workers and not to mention students. The smell of a Gregg's store is so incredibly tempting that if you do walk past the store, there is always another one nearby so maybe it is simply clever marketing!

Within the Gregg's stores, everything is freshly baked on site throughout the day. There are items for sale on shelves as you walk in, including a hot baguette section, and there is also food (such as sausage rolls and cakes), behind the counter. Generally, there is always a really good selection of things to choose from, so you should always find something that appeals to your taste buds, that is within a pocket pleasing price range.

There are a few disadvantages with Gregg's though, firstly the fat content in it's products which can be anywhere up to 20g if you buy one of the baguettes. Of course, Gregg's itself isn't the particularly healthy option, particularly if you are health conscious or on a diet. All of the nutritional values are on the website, so if you are concerned you can check the figures out for yourself. Although, in winter time I think we naturally crave something warm and filling, and Gregg's certainly fills this gap when it's freezing and you are starving on your lunch break!

I like how Gregg's move with the seasons in terms of themed products, i.e Halloween cakes and more recently, "The Festive Bake", comprising of chicken, bacon, cranberry and red onion. For 80p per bake (chicken, steak or festive) - you can't go wrong! Although they are a huge chain, it's clever how they embrace the seasons and well, not to mention taste!

On the downside, although the stores and generally very clean and well organised, I have found the staff seem to really dislike you giving them notes instead of coins. I was once told they couldn't serve me because they didn't have any change for £10, which was frustrating and I didn't understand why they didn't have the change, especially given as they are always so busy.

As much as I am fond of the savoury items, I have to say I don't think the cakes are always as good, particularly the Belgian buns which can sometimes be a little synthetic tasting on the icing. They also seem to sell some strange bread bun and squirted cream concoctions, which in all honesty don't look that appetising! However the chocolate star cakes are usually very delicious, so it's a mixed bag really. There are also many options aimed at kids, some of which have plastic toys attached to them.

Gregg's is not some 5 star establishment, it knows that. However when you are starving and just want something quick for lunch, it's perfect to go to and you're pockets don't have to suffer. Granted, it's not a healthy salad or a bowl of fruit, and perhaps they could introduce more healthy options within the counter food especially. However, it's a warm and friendly place you can rely on for a decent bite to eat, especially when you don't have much time or you are short on cash. I struggle to fault it!

And, just incase you're hungry...

http://www.greggs.co.uk/menu