The opening date for Hitchin's new GAIL's bakery has been confirmed.

GAIL's has taken over 16 Bancroft, which was previously occupied by Monsoon, and the company has now confirmed it will be opening a new bakery there on November 29.

A spokesperson for GAIL's said: "GAIL’s has an ongoing commitment to making world-class, craft baking a part of every neighbourhood.

"The new opening incorporates subtle elements which reflect Hitchin’s rich tapestry of architectural styles, using timber-framed walls and herringbone flooring.

"The bakery’s interior design is inspired by Hitchin’s history, character, and the streetscape of the beautiful market town in which it sits.

"The bakery features a hidden courtyard at the back of the building leading to a large outdoor area on Grammar School Walk, inviting customers in from front to back, and pays homage to Hitchin’s distinctive passageways, which are a direct consequence imposed by the Medieval street plan."

GAIL’s was started by Yael (Gail) Mejia in the early 1990s, serving top chefs and food venues in London.

In 2003, Tom Molnar and a few friends joined Yael’s premium wholesale craft bakery and grew the business by opening modern neighbourhood craft bakeries that bring communities together to enjoy chef-quality baking.

The first GAIL’s bakery opened in 2005 in Hampstead, serving fresh, handmade bread, sandwiches, salads, pastries and cakes, alongside their carefully-sourced house blend speciality coffee and barista-made drink range.

GAIL’s has just launched its festive menu, which is available across all bakeries, and includes the Christmas Bun - brushed with orange and crème fraîche icing - and the new Raclette Escargot, which is filled with layers of rarebit, escargot, caramelised onions and braised red cabbage.