He’s held a royal warrant for baking bread delivered to Balmoral, received a Paul Hollywood handshake for his pastry, and is now opening a new bakery in East Devon.

Brian Spence, of Tilley’s Gluten Free Bakery at Teignmouth’s Farmers’ Market is on a roll, so to speak. Only now everything he bakes is gluten free.

“Baking is in my blood. I started at a cottage bakery pushing a broom age 13,” he said.

“I helped my Grandma, her brother and her cousin Tilley who had a bakery and market stall in the 1950’s. I earned my City and Guilds in bakery, was best in the class as a Challenge Cup winner and went on to learn high class confectionery and chocolate in London. I set up my own bakery and was doing well until my son was diagnosed as a celiac.

“I realised everything I was baking, even coming home wearing my baking clothes dusted with flour, was making him sick. So I switched my bakery over to be exclusively gluten free. I have no problems with cross contamination and I have the tolerance certificate to prove it. Additionally, most of my baked goods are milk free which is rare in gluten free circles, and some are vegan as well. But many of my customers wouldn’t know the difference.”

Brian’s stall, named after his Grandma’s cousin Tilley, is still meeting royalty, with Princess Ann and cooking royalty, Michelin starred chef Michael Caines, stopping by his gazebo at the recent Devon County Show. You can catch him in The Triangle this Saturday, July 26 between 10 am and 2 pm when he will be selling his famous baked goods, including his tasty gluten free bread.

As a market treat, Brian and the Market Ambassador will be handing out free samples of his best-selling Bakewell tart between 11 am and 12pm, or until they are gone.

See the Teignmouth Farmers’ Market Facebook page for further market details.