Vintage kiosk becomes weekend stop for home baking
A disused red telephone box at Traprain Farm, near East Linton, has been converted into an honesty-box bakery by a mother and daughter aiming to add a small dose of cheer to weekend routines. The project, named Traprain Treatbox, opens today and will run on Saturday afternoons from 2pm to 6.30pm, with customers invited to choose from a rotating selection of home bakes and pay on trust.
The kiosk stood idle on the family’s farm for years before Michelle Aitken, 55, decided to give it a new purpose with her daughter Alessandra, 15. The pair say they want to keep prices accessible, with items currently set between £2 and £5.
“The phone box has been sitting on the farm for years. One day I looked at it and had a lightbulb moment – thinking it would be nice to turn it into an honesty box.”
Aitken previously co-owned and managed The Drovers Inn in East Linton with her sister before selling the business in 2002. Alessandra is studying practical cookery at St George’s School in Edinburgh, and the two are pooling their skills to stock the kiosk each week.
What’s on offer and how it will work
Customers can expect a small-batch menu that will change across the season as the pair refine their bakes based on demand. The owners intend to test different options and then keep regular favourites once they see what people choose most often. The honesty model allows visitors to take what they fancy and leave payment accordingly.
- Alessandra’s cinnamon rolls
- Chocolate brownies and millionaire’s shortbread
- Brown butter cookies and jammy flapjacks
- Carrot cake and meringues
- Freshly baked scones, including blueberry
The idea for the venture was partly inspired by family trips to the Highlands and islands, where trust-based roadside boxes are a recognised feature of local life. In launching a similar set-up in East Lothian, the family hopes to offer a simple, low-cost treat at a time when many households are watching spending.
Local setting and community focus
Situated roadside on the farm at Traprain, the kiosk is designed to be easy to reach for people travelling towards or from East Linton at the weekend. The owners say the focus is on light-touch, affordable home baking, with the selection changing until the most popular items become staples. The concept is intentionally modest: small batches, clear prices, and a familiar trust system, all fitted into a compact heritage structure that many in the area will recognise.
For East Lothian residents, particularly those in and around East Linton, the new stop adds to the county’s small network of community-led food offerings. It may also create a new point of interest on local weekend walks and drives, drawing people to support a family-run micro-venture that keeps costs visible and portions manageable.
Opening hours and prices
| Day | Hours | Price range | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 2:00pm – 6:30pm | £2 – £5 | Roadside kiosk at Traprain Farm, near East Linton |
Aitken said the aim is to keep pricing as low as possible given current household budgets, and to place emphasis on familiar, well-tested recipes. The approach blends a traditional honesty box with a distinctly local flavour, presenting a small, seasonal attraction that sits neatly alongside the area’s rural heritage.
While the family has not set out an expanded timetable beyond Saturdays, they indicate that the menu and offering will evolve as they learn more about what residents prefer. For now, the message is straightforward: pop by, choose a bake, and pay what is marked.
