A fast growing upmarket bakery chain is set to take over a building formerly occupied by a branch of Waterstones.

Gail’s bakery have applied for permission open a branch in Brentwood high street with chairs and tables on the pavement outside.

Gail’s bakery opened in London’s Hampstead High Street in 2005. Today, there are 79 bakeries in neighbourhoods in and around London, Oxford, Brighton and beyond.

The chain says the business will help enhance the high street in Brentwood.

The proposal comes after Waterstones left the unit after ‘unsuccessful’ lease negotiations.

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The bookshop, which had been closed due to the Covid-19 restrictions did not reopen.

Instead it reopened in another shop unit just yards away on the other side of the street in August last year.

A statement as part of a planning application from Gail’s to Brentwood Borough Council said: “These proposed external works will result in the enhancement of a currently vacant shopfront, providing an overall uplift to the unit and its presence on the prime shopping frontage within Brentwood town centre.

“The proposed shopfront alterations and advertisements installation are of high quality finish, are complimentary of the existing buildings facade, and are entirely reflective of surrounding operators’ shopfront arrangements, demonstrating an understanding of the site and how it relates to its existing context.”

The statement added: “Overall, these proposals seeking alterations to the shopfront and the installation of advertisements, to allow occupation by Gail’s, represent a positive outcome for a currently vacant unit forming part of Brentwood town centre’s prime shopping frontage.”