IT’S the nation’s favourite - now one of the biggest Greggs in the country will open in Cornmarket.

The popular bakery chain has been converting the former Moss Bros store near Carfax and now it is ready to open this morning.

With 66 seats upstairs it will be one of the largest branches in the country.

Regional manager Steve Russell said the bakery would be open seven days a week.

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Oxford Mail:

Its usual opening hours on Monday to Saturday will be 7am to 9pm, with different hours expected on Sunday.

Mr Russell said: “We are thrilled to be opening here in Cornmarket right in the heart of the city centre, with about 30 staff - some of them have been recruited locally.

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Oxford Mail:

“Customers have been trying to get in here all day but we have had to tell them to come back.

“With 66 seats upstairs this will be one of the biggest Greggs in the country - there are only a handful this size.”

Mr Russell said contractors have tried to retain as many of the building’s original features and have decorated the walls with pictures showing local scenes.

Oxford Mail:

He added: “Oxford is a great tourist destination and we know we are guaranteed plenty of footfall here in Cornmarket - I’m sure it’s going to be very busy.

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“The Westgate Centre is great but it’s Cornmarket that is the traditional centre

“The whole Greggs range will be on sale here including our vegan sausage rolls.”

Oxford Mail:

Mr Russell said he could not reveal how much Greggs has invested in the new branch but added he was pleased the chain was helping to revitalise Cornmarket along with Jesus College, which is working on a £36m student accommodation and shops scheme on the corner of Market Street.

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The former Northgate House has been demolished and its replacement is due to be completed next year, marking the college’s 450th anniversary.

Oxford Mail:

Jessie Felman, one of the new staff members, said: “I was working for Greggs in Cowley and now I’m going to be working here - I’m really looking forward to it.

“All my friends and family have been asking me for the opening date.”

Gary Stevens, 41, who works in venture capital in London, was disappointed the branch was not yet open.

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He said: “It’s reasonably priced so it’s a shame it wasn’t open yet - I usually go for the pastries and the cakes.

“My girlfriend prefers Pret but that’s a bit too healthy for me.”

Oxford Mail:

Last month the chain, which launched in the North East 81 years ago, announced that 19,000 employees who have been with the firm since before March 31, 2019 will get a £300 bonus each, while the remaining 6,000 staff members will be paid £75 per quarter they have worked for the baker.

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This came on the back of sales of vegan sausage rolls and vegan steak bakes.

In the past year, Greggs, which was first introduced to the high street in 1939, opened 138 new shops and closed 41.

There are further plans to open 100 more over the next 12 months.

The firm posted a 27 per cent rise in 2019 pre-tax profits, excluding one-off charges, to £114.2m.

Like-for-like sales grew by a record 9.2 per cent.

Roger Whiteside, the chief executive, hailed 2019 as an 'exceptional year' for Greggs.