A CARLISLE baker has celebrated a year since he launched his increasingly popular cafe. 

Martin Douglas runs the tearoom in Rockit Home on Cecil Street, a spot that once housed his great-uncle's antique shop.

After growing his MWD Bakery delivery service during Covid, he initially gave the cafe a shot as a four-week pop-up last March, but it quickly became a full-time venture.

"It's been a quick year," he said. 

"It started just doing coffee, cakes, and everything sweet really, but in the last six weeks, we've introduced a savoury line and ever since, the cafe has got even bigger.

"I'm doing something 'sconewiches', different savoury scones with different fillings, savoury pancakes like brie and bacon. 

"I've always tried to be a bit quirky and think out of the box a little. 

"My attitude is you can chuck everything together, if it works, it works, if not try something different," he said. 

Martin, who has trained as a chef, has been baking much of life, despite a former career in the financial industry. 

"I've always baked and cooked since I was young, my grandad was a cook in the army he taught me how to cook. My grandma was a Salvation Army lady, she taught me how to bake," he said. 

News and Star: Martin's menu features an array of gluten-free sweet treatsMartin's menu features an array of gluten-free sweet treats (Image: Supplied)

Being coeliac himself, he also looks to bring something different to Carlisle so that people with dietary requirements to wheat and gluten can come and 'feel safe'.

"I don't think anyone is offering what I'm doing in Carlisle," he said. 

Adding a familial touch to the business, he employs his parents part-time to help chip in with baking and deliveries, made to ten local businesses.

"I've also got Amy at the cafe, she's brilliant - she's everything you could ask for in a member of staff," he said. 

Looking ahead, Martin has some big plans for the business that prides itself on everything being homemade. 

"I want to take on an extra room in the building to extend the cafe and also got a few other plans, such as baking classes at the cafe for children and groups of adults who want to learn to bake," he said.