‘Magnificent’ jacket potato truck with 3 hour queues just opened its first UK store

Jessica Hamilton

Published December 6, 2024 1:49pm Updated December 6, 2024 1:57pm

Image of a large jacket potato covered in various toppings and sauces, next to an image of a man pouring sauce into a container of food — People have travelled from all over the world to try it (Picture: Instagram/ Spud Bros)

The jacket potato has long been a staple of school lunches and midweek meals. Simple? Yes. Convenient? Definitely. But exciting? Rarely.

That was until the Spud Brothers came on the scene, just two local lads from Preston serving piping hot potatoes from their humble food truck.

The Preston-based food outlet has been a fixture of the city’s Flag Market for over 70 years but surged in popularity once The Spud Bros, aka Jake and Harley Nelson, took over their social media feed.

Taking TikTok by storm, with over three million followers and another half a million on Instagram, their mouthwatering spuds and creative toppings – garlic butter, three-cheese blend and their ‘secret’ tram sauce – have earned them an international and cult following.

People have travelled from all over the world to the small Lancashire city to get their hands on the famous spuds, often waiting up to three hours in a queue for a taste.

Jacob, 28, and Harley Nelson, 21, aka TheSpudBrothers have become a global sensation for their baked potatoes. Release date March 15 2024. Two brothers who sell jacket potatoes have become an unlikely tourist attraction and attract customers from around the world after becoming a TikTok sensation. Jacob, 28, and Harley Nelson, 21, have seen customers queuing for hours to get their hands on their famous spuds in Preston, Lancs,. after they went viral on the app. Since they started posting, people have travelled from Australia, Turkey, Spain, Germany and Amsterdam after seeing their viral TikTok videos. The siblings, whose username is @TheSpudBrothers, say 'it's hard' to say how many potatoes a day they make and serve but they often have to turn customers away. — The Preston-based food truck has been a fixture of the city’s Flag Market for 70 years (Picture: Jacob Nelson / SWNS)

The brothers have self-described it ‘the greatest spud on earth’ – and their followers seem to agree. Visitors declared it ‘iconic’ and ‘the best potato I’ve ever had’.

And now, they’ve upgraded their food truck to The Spud Bros Express, a brand new pop-up bricks and mortar shop on Archer Street, just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus.

Set to stick around for the next few months, they’re bringing their signature take on the humble potato to the heart of London’s Soho.

Jacob, 28, and Harley Nelson, 21, aka TheSpudBrothers have gone viral on TikTok after sharing their impressive spuds. Release date March 15 2024. Two brothers who sell jacket potatoes have become an unlikely tourist attraction and attract customers from around the world after becoming a TikTok sensation. Jacob, 28, and Harley Nelson, 21, have seen customers queuing for hours to get their hands on their famous spuds in Preston, Lancs,. after they went viral on the app. Since they started posting, people have travelled from Australia, Turkey, Spain, Germany and Amsterdam after seeing their viral TikTok videos. The siblings, whose username is @TheSpudBrothers, say 'it's hard' to say how many potatoes a day they make and serve but they often have to turn customers away. — It’s been described as ‘the greatest spud on earth’ (Picture: Jacob Nelson / SWNS)

The new location, which opened last week, has already drawn hoards of spud fans and food influencers, eager to get a taste. With queues snaking around the corner and wait times lasting an hour, the jacket potato has never been so exciting.

One TikToker, @angelina.pj, visited to ‘see if it was worth the hype’ and revealed she waited an hour and a half for the classic beans and cheese.

She said: ‘I’ve never tried anything like it and never in my life have I had that much cheese and beans in a potato. That portion was so generous, so much better than the ones you get in school.’

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Another reviewer, @itsjimmyofficial, described the classic cheese and beans with tuna, tram sauce and fried onions as ‘magnificent’.

@angelina.pj
Replying to @Angelina🤪 Reviewing the VIRAL Spud Bros in London!🥔 @Savannah Gracey @spudbros #spudbros #spudbrosexpress #londonfoodie #londonfoodspots #jacketpotato #bakedpotato #jacketpotatowithcheeseandbeans #angelinacertified
♬ Love Grows (Sped up) – Edison Lighthouse

He said: ‘The spud was cooked perfectly. The toppings with the spud were just the perfect balance of taste and texture. The cheese was melted on point.

‘Don’t get me wrong it’s a jacket potato at the end of the day but the way Spud Bros makes it is absolutely banging.

But customers can expect to pay a premium for their Soho spuds. Up north, in Preston, a large jacket potato with two toppings will set you back around £5.

Londoners, however, will have to pay £5 for a jacket potato with butter, @itsjimmyofficial_ revealed.

@itsjimmyofficial_
SpudBros Is Officially In London, Soho. Serving Their Famous Jacket Potatoe!!!! @spudbros @Spudbros Express 😋🫠 Ft @Angelina🤪 #placestoeatinlondon #halalfoodie #foodineastlondon #halal #halalfood #halalfoodlondon #restrauntlondon #halallondon #food #foodie #foodfeed #feedfeed #foodjourney #londonfood #fyp #foryoupage #explore #londonfood #londonhotspot #londonrestaurants #spud #spudarmy #spudbros #soho #jacketpotato #CapCut
♬ Let Me Go – Halal Beats

To add cheese, beans or coleslaw it’s an extra £2 per topping and for tuna, chicken curry or chilli con carne, it’s an added £4 per option.

Locals haven’t taken too well to the steep prices. User @charlih.94 wrote: ‘As a Londoner myself £9 is steep for what it is.’

User, @xx_ellarose8 wrote: ‘I was going to go but for those prices, they can keep it.’ Another, @hereforbantz, added: ‘£4 for an extra scoop of tuna?’