Gainsborough – Cooplands

I accept that I’m not Jay Rayner, but I feel an obligation to report back on any regional bakery that might be in competition with Greggs. Cooplands is the second largest bakery chain in the country, with only Greggs being larger, and their outlets are mainly in the Midlands and north of the country.

There was very little choice (unless you love cheese straws) when I went in during the afternoon, although I’m sure they would have prepared something for me on request. They had five sausage rolls for £1.80, so that seemed a very good deal even though I wasn’t sure that I actually needed five sausage rolls. However, value is the key and all that. The service was friendly and everything seemed clean and organised, albeit quiet. They did have a steak and ale pie that I was briefly tempted by, but I’m not very good with fatty bits of steak and I couldn’t be dealing with my high levels of awkwardness in picking the bits of fat off the steak. I understand that food connoisseurs like fat, but I don’t.

Here they are in the bag.

And here they are in my luxury hotel. I say luxury hotel, but I mean Travelodge. I accidentally ate one between Cooplands and the hotel. They had a pleasant aftertaste, although were slightly mushy in texture and I would have liked a little bit more of a peppery taste to proceedings. Let’s be honest here, they’re not Greggs sort of quality, but I liked the pricing. I’d go here again and they were far better than the Pound Bakery, who gave me a highly sub-optimal experience a few months ago in Crewe with their pasties.

Right, that’s the end of another riveting food review. I think I need to get out more.