Gareth Clemen visits Greggs for his lunch break three times per week and got a tatt thinking the chain would love it and gift him some goodies – but it didn’t quite work
A Greggs superfan got a tattoo in the hope of getting a shedload of freebies to fund his pastry habit. Gareth Clement was hoping to reduce his £800 a year bill – only to be gutted when it didn’t even earn him a single sausage roll.
Gareth Clement, who visits Greggs for his lunch break three times per week, got the tattoo after wanting a ‘random’ inking and spotting the chain’s delivery van, thinking the chain would love it and gift him some goodies.
In tribute to his favourite lunch-time spot, the interpretation and translation assistant went under the needle to get the three-inch inking of the logo on his left arm.
Gareth, who has 11 tattoos including a Henry Hoover and a Captain America shield, says the £30 tattoo was completed in under an hour.
The 37-year-old, whose favourite treats are corned beef bakes and steak bakes, quipped the ‘dream’ would be to be a ‘Greggsfluencer’ and be able to get his favourites for free.
Despite being permanently branded, and effectively a walking advert for the chain, the dad-of-three admits it’s been a ‘lost cause’ as he is yet to bag any discounts or freebies.
But it seems he has no regrets after getting the inking back in October 2022, still happily spending £806 a year on his favourites.
Gareth, from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, said: “I go to Greggs two to three times per week.
“I thought I’d try and do it [get the tattoo] to get a bit of a discount but it hasn’t worked so far, it’s a bit of a lost cause.
“The Greggs staff all laugh at it and they all wanted to know why I had it done. The manager had a photo with it and sent it around their work chat so it’s all been a good laugh, but it hasn’t materialised into any discount sadly.
“My dream would be to be able to walk into a Greggs store and receive a free steak bake – I’d love to be a sort of ‘Greggsfluencer’.”
The inspiration for Gareth’s artwork was from seeing a delivery van while out with pals. Gareth said: “I was out drinking and I messaged my tattoo artist and told him I wanted something random. As I turned and looked out the window there was a Greggs delivery van, so I said I’d have a Greggs tattoo.
“He laughed it off and I told him I’d be there at 9am the next morning to get it done. I turned up at 9am and he thought I was joking but I wasn’t. My go-to order is a corn beef bake and a steak bake.
“I’ll get that two-three times per week – I work from home so it’s a quick pop to a Greggs or I’ll get it delivered. I go so regularly because of the ease of going there, you don’t have to wait long for food and you’re back before your dinner break is over.”
While he admits his mum ‘disowned’ him when she first saw the bright blue inking, Gareth says the majority of people find the tattoo funny.
Gareth said: “My mother hates it – but she despises tattoos so when I told her she kind of disowned me for a couple of days but we’re on talking terms now.
“My wife found it hilarious and my kids love it as well – they tell all of their friends that their dad has a Greggs tattoo on his arm.
“Most people find it quite funny that I’ve got this done, I ran the Cardiff half marathon recently and I was wearing a vest and lots of people were asking me questions [about the tattoo].”
Greggs have been contacted for comment.