Oxon Flyer

I wouldn't necessarily describe something that's made to order from all the stuff that's been festering in their little plastic tubs on the counter for hours as "fresh" either .....

LondonElite

If you work in scaffolding, ideal!

enviroian

My biggest complaint is pre made wrapped sandwiches' bread is compromised.

stut

To Pret's credit, the sandwiches are rarely made "hours ago". The branches all have onsite "kitchens" (assembly rooms with buttering machines would be more accurate) to avoid the precise problem of the bread being compromised. The name itself is a pun on Pret a Porter - off the shelf, but high end.

(My biggest complaint is that I just don't like most of the fillings...)

It's not going to be as good as a decent, fresh made sandwich bar sandwich. But it's nice to have a decent alternative to an interminable wait for something freshly made when you're in a lunchtime rush.

HIDDY

See the light and head up to Glasgow/Scotland if you want freshly made. There you can get a bread roll filled with almost anything as long as it's not too exotic. A food van will serve you a fried egg/tattie scone/lorne sausage combo in the morning and for lunch head to a chippy for one filled with chips. ^

Independent bakers or grocery stores do offer healthier fillings....like gammon and processed cheese slices.

stut

What, no roll and mutton pie?

bensyd

Most of the made to order sandwich chains are glorified service station sandwiches. The most awful sweetened, processed "bread" with cheap, flavourless, bottom of the barrel fillings. That they make them fresh is about the only thing they have going for them.

dddc

Actually, not all of them do have kitchens. There are a few "satellite" shops that get their sandwiches in. Canary Wharf has one, Bond Street station is another.

I have a Pret meters from my office door. It's the last place I go to for a sandwich or lunch. Full of mayonnaise, and as many calories as a Big Mac!!!

"Eat" would be my chain of choice. Better sandwiches, salads and soups. Pret's soups are horrid bowls of salty dishwater. Eat's Chicken Laksa is a hearty soup meal. Pret also has the most disgusting coffee and I think there was a survey recently that showed that.

However, of course nothing beats a freshly made sandwich with fresh ingredients. Independent sandwich shops are hit and miss and when I found a decent one in Soho, I overhead that it was closing in a month. Argh!!

Probably not to relevant for those travelling, but I've just tried Mealpal, where you pay upfront for 12 or 20 meals for 30 days of lunches. It's been a great exploration of my surrounds to restaurants and shops I've walked past and never been in. Works out at either £4.30 or £4.80 per meal and I've had some fantastic options. Yesterday I had a freshly made Chicken Kastu from a place in Panton St that was delicious. The worst I had was dry chicken burger and cold chips.

I've gone for the 12 option as I like going to the markets on Berwick St for lunch. Always great tasting there!

CDTraveler

We visited two Pret shops on a recent stay in London. In both we were told, "Well, the soup's supposed to be gluten-free, but stuff gets in it sometimes."

No way in hell were we risking that.

Of the GF premade sandwiches, M&S seemed to be the best. Tesco salads were our second choice quick meal.

MichaelBaku

Greggs is my "go-to" place whenever I visit the UK. Lots of unhealthy but very tasty stuff - steak bake, sausage rolls, sausage/cheese and bean pasty. You can't beat Greggs! Wish they'd open up in Baku.

Kettering Northants QC

I think Greggs sometimes gets unfair press. Their Bacon Baguette and Coffee early in the morning at the station (before Pret have bothered to open) is excellent quality and a bargain.

HIDDY

Something that's popular with the masses usually attracts bad press as the media knows more people will be attracted to the story.....bit like the BAEC forum.

My favourite Greggs products were the sausage roll or chicken bake.

TribalistMeathead

I don't like mustard or mayo, which means I've never eaten a Pret sandwich.

I realize it may make me some sort of alien creature, but I love the cheese and tomato baguette from Upper Crust.

Up In The Air

Joe & the Juice serves sandwiches that are in my view far superior to those of Pret A Manger. The Danish chain has a branch at BHX.
https://www.joejuice.com/products/