📍 Christie The Baker – Coatbridge
After many, many, MANY recommendations to visit Christie The Baker, I finally stopped into their Coatbridge shop to see what all the fuss was about.
Rather than going crazy on my first visit, I picked up three sweet treats to give me a wee introduction to the place:
- Mint Cup
- Pineapple Tart
- Raspberry Tart
And it turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag.
One disappointed me, one was right up my street and the other I’d genuinely put amongst the best I’ve tried.
Christie The Baker in Coatbridge
Before getting into what I ate, Christie The Baker isn’t exactly a newcomer to the Lanarkshire food scene.
The traditional Scottish bakery has been around for more than 75 years, with a long history serving the communities of Airdrie and Coatbridge.
They’re particularly well known for traditional Scottish bakery favourites including Scotch pies, morning rolls, plain bread and cream rings, alongside a massive selection of cakes and sweet treats.
The business has also picked up plenty of recognition over the years, including winning the South Scotland category at the National Bakery Awards in 2024.
So given how many people had recommended the place to me as well, I was definitely interested to finally give it a go.
What I Tried at Christie The Baker
I decided to stick entirely to the sweet side of the counter on this visit.
First up…
Mint Cup
I’m actually struggling to remember if I’d ever had a proper mint cup before this.
If I have, it clearly wasn’t memorable enough!
Thankfully this one certainly was.
Right up my street.
Everything about it just did the job for me and this is absolutely something I’d pick up again.
It was a very good start to my first Christie experience.
Pineapple Tart
Unfortunately, things took a bit of a dip with the pineapple tart.
I’ve tried plenty of pineapple tarts from bakeries during my travels around Lanarkshire and beyond, so this is something I’ve got a fair bit to compare against.
And if I’m being fair, this one wasn’t up there with the best I’ve had.
It wasn’t terrible by any means.
It just didn’t really do much for me and I came away from it feeling slightly disappointed.
After enjoying the mint cup so much, I had probably gone into this one expecting a little more.
That also meant I wasn’t holding out particularly high hopes for my final cake.
Turns out…
That was a big mistake.
The Raspberry Tart Was Fantastic
What a turnaround this was.
I absolutely loved the raspberry tart.
In fact, I’d go as far as saying this was right up there amongst the best raspberry tarts I’ve tried so far.
It was easily my favourite of the three things I bought on this visit.
After being slightly underwhelmed by the pineapple tart, the raspberry tart completely changed the direction of the review.
I’d happily walk back into Christie and buy another one.
More Than Just Cakes
Although I went entirely for cakes this time, there’s a lot more to Christie The Baker than what I tried.
Their range includes traditional Scottish bakery staples such as Scotch pies, sausage rolls, bridies, morning rolls and plain bread alongside sandwiches, hot food and plenty of sweet options.
Their Scotch pies in particular have picked up awards over the years, while their morning rolls and plain bread are also amongst the products the bakery has become known for.
So there’s clearly plenty left for me to work through on future visits.
I think I’ll need to give the savoury side a bash next time rather than buying another bag full of cakes!
My Verdict on Christie The Baker Coatbridge
For a first visit, I’d call this a successful one overall.
It wasn’t three home runs.
The pineapple tart didn’t really do it for me and wouldn’t be something I’d rush back to order again.
But the other two more than made up for it.
The mint cup was right up my street and the raspberry tart was absolutely fantastic.
I’d genuinely put that raspberry tart amongst the better ones I’ve tried.
Considering how much else Christie The Baker has on offer, this definitely won’t be my last visit.
Next time I’ll probably start exploring some of the products they’re particularly famous for and see if I can find a few more favourites.
Christie regulars — what do I absolutely NEED to try on my next visit?
Christie The Baker Coatbridge – Location
📍 Christie The Baker
56 Main Street
Coatbridge
ML5 3AE
The Coatbridge shop offers a mixture of traditional baked goods, hot savouries, breads, rolls and cakes, with takeaway and online ordering options also available.
My first visit:
🍫 Mint Cup — would definitely have again
🍍 Pineapple Tart — not one of my favourites
🍓 Raspberry Tart — absolutely fantastic
Two out of three ain’t bad!
And with a bakery that’s been part of the local area for generations, I’ve still got a fair amount of the menu left to explore.
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