Greggs Leicester Square to open by 2am despite fears it will be an anti-social 'hot spot'

Greggs had to cancel his previous plan to open a store in Leicester Square for 24 hours. Credit: UrbanImages/Alamy Stock Photo

London's revelers will be able to pop into Greggs late into the night for bacon and coffee as early as 2am after the bakery chain denied claims that «mega Greggs »will become a breeding ground for crime.

Greggs has canceled a scheduled appeal hearing that was expected to decide whether the company could continue serving hot food at its Leicester Square store for 24 hours after an agreement was reached with Westminster City Council.

The store was named Mega. -Greggs, due to the flagship site's larger size, will now be able to serve hot food, including potato wedges and pizza, until 2am.

CEO Roizen Curry said it was «after midnight». He aimed to keep the store open around the clock, but was forced to back down by claims that it would become a «hot spot for overnight riots and anti-social behavior.»

The Metropolitan Police claimed there was a «probable growth effect crime and unrest in the area, as well as increased demand for police resources, which are already at the limit.”

Aisha Less, deputy head of Westminster City Council, said that under the agreement, Greggs would have to have video surveillance on object and door controllers — both steps were suggested by Greggs.

This comes amid wider pressure on Greggs. open stores in the late afternoon, having first tried this move in 2019. The chain is best known for its sausages, as well as breakfast and lunch options.

However, about a quarter of Greggs' 2,300 stores are now open in the evening, and the company is exploring the possibility of opening a 24-hour drive-through.

In its latest results, released on Tuesday, Greggs said sales were up nearly a fifth as more people turned to the baker for cheap dinner options.

Demand for chicken goujons, slices and pizza surged as households grow. are facing increasing pressure on their finances and are looking for cheaper deals in the evening.

The chain has raised the price of rolls from £1 in early 2022 to £1.20 but said it does not expect to raise prices this year.

Ms. Curry told reporters that expanding the range to sell hotter, lower-priced options is helping boost demand. The company is gearing up to launch a new range of tortillas and has also recently introduced more vegan options, including chicken-free vegan Mexican pastries.

Ms Curry said: «It's all about offering that choice so people can come back often… They can come back over and over and try a lot of different things and things they like.”

She previously suggested that the company aims to offer plant-based alternatives to every menu item that contains meat .