A baker who started selling cakes from her mum's kitchen just three years ago is now opening up her first shop.

Ellie Miller from Ashford opened the doors to Ellie’s Baking Goods in Hythe today in the former Independent Baker unit on the high street.

The 23-year-old has been baking since she was 12 years old but picked up the hobby again during lockdown and started baking from her mum's kitchen.

After gaining a huge following on social media, the business took off and Miss Miller threw everything into making it a success.

“Just before lockdown, I opened up an Instagram page to show my bakes for fun,” she explained.

“Someone then wanted to order a cake and it blew up from there.

“Everyone was at home and still wanted to make birthdays special and cakes were a good way to do that.

“Once I finished my degree I decided I wanted to give it a good go, so in 2021 I put everything into baking.

“Everything was in my mum's kitchen but this is the first premises I have had with a proper kitchen.”

After getting the keys on July 12, Miss Miller spent two weeks painting, decorating and moving all of her equipment into the new space.

Having lived in Hythe for a short spell, she says she knew it would be the perfect fit to expand her business.

“We’ve got brownies, cakes and paninis – as well as hot and cold drinks,” she explained.

“The footfall down Hythe high street is actually quite high.

“A lot of the older generation like coming in for teas and coffee so I think it is the perfect place for someone like me.”

As well as the shop, Miss Miller also sells her sweet treats from a converted horse box at the Designer Outlet.

At the moment, she has a spot by the centre’s new Joy Garden until September but hopes to stay for longer after huge success.

Despite the difficult time high streets across the UK have been having, Miss Miller feels now is the right time to take the risk as “fate” has led her here.

She added: “I didn't put any pressure on myself to get a shop, it just all happened and I'm a firm believer in fate so I grabbed the opportunity.

“I have a lovely supportive social media base and I think that has really helped.

“If I didn't have that, I would struggle a lot more.

“Now I have built up those foundations, this was the next step.”