To think the words gone mad or am I just boring?

Haven't seen a Spud u Like in years! I did go to them a few times as I recall - and I liked them - but the thing with those was that they tended to be in shopping centres and the like so you would grab a quick jacket potato for lunch mid shopping trip. I doubt many people went to them just because they were desperate to go to spud u like with no other shopping planned.

There was a trend back in either the late 1980's or '90s in Dublin where selling baked potatoes was HUGE! I mean REALLY REALLY big.

There were brands like "Spud-U-Like" and "Hot Potatoes" and there were loads of others. It was like what you'd see Subway or Pret a Manger now, almost on every corner. Then they died away just as quickly. Then there was another food trend that came in to take their space and for a while I thought donuts was going to go the same way - big launch and disappear just as quickly. They however have managed to find a niche and they're doing really well.

Anyway - good on this entrepreneur for finding a gap in the market, making tasty food (that people will travel for and enjoy) and more power to their elbow!

Are the spud u like shops still in existence?

I agree that I don't get people going to those lengths for a jacket potato - unless the toppings were truly spectacular (ie I would struggle to replicate them at home) and/or they were being served by Hugh Jackman!

But with at least one of those elements being highly unlikely, and assuming all the toppings are the usual bog standard ones, I can't say I'd go so far out of my way or make such an effort to visit a jacket potato van.

That all being said, if it's what people want to do then it's up to them and as for the guy running the business, fair play to him. Regardless of what we think, if there is a demand for his jacket potatoes then I don't blame him.

On the issue of cheese/beans - I used to put the cheese on top of the beans but then someone pointed out that if you put the cheese first then the hot beans on top it helps the cheese melt more. I've since done cheese first and it's really nice.

Is this actually true that people are waiting that long?!

There was a jacket potato van in our town which did the best jacket potatoes ever honestly. Loved them.
The difference was well of course was that they weren't stingy with the toppings and weren't stingy with how much mayonnaise they put in the tuna mayonnaise or the butter. And obviously the jacket potatoes were amazing.

But then they closed down, sold the business 🙁🙁🙁
I don't think it was because the business wasn't doing well to be fair I think the ladies needed to do other things.

They were the best though

Gets people out though....spending money in the town rather than online

Healthier than a takeaway or McDonald's

Its part of the fun of these viral videos, joining in with the queue and being part of something "famous".

You should check out Keith Lee. He makes a living now just doing food reviews on tiktok. And tends to choose quiet and struggling places. Video goes up and boom, line out the door.

You might think it's strange or like a cult but I'm all for supporting local, and if Keith Lee says it's good, it is

It's FOMO in action.
I like a baked tatties as much as the next person, but it's mad to be that bothered about a particular tattie from a particular van!

How about children are just kept off tik tok to start with?

It's not for them

You can knock this up at home !
However, like the chip shop that went viral last year , I hope the owners make lots of money and do well as small businesses are always up against it I can imagine

Good luck to him. People are bonkers though queuing like that for something you can easily make at home.
Slow cooker baked spuds are the tastiest I find.

I normally do this and then cheese on top of the beans too. The cheese under melts into the butter and potatoes so you get extra cheesyness!

@Catza I agree with you

See also, paying £££ for match tickets, instead of watching for free at home. People pay for the shated experience

But, canned chilli? Bleurgh

There's a jacket potato van in my local high street and it's very popular. Apparently they are good.

This post actually raises a good point (although not the one the OP has mentioned)

On TV adverts for children are really tightly monitored and regulated. Surely we need something similar for the likes of TikTok, where influencers and brands are free to beam whatever products into childrens eyes 24/7.

@Mothership4two but lots of people are daft though! Is that a surprise?

I would rather he was earning the money rather than McDonald's etc . Sounds like he's donating to charity too.

Well done to him

Reading this thread has reminded me of Cuckoo

I am also now craving a jack-et po-ta-to and will be having one for lunch!

It's all for likes innit
You could do jacket spud with cheese and beans at home for about 50 pence each.
It's nice that he's doing a fundraiser for charity but come on, who the hell is going to come all the way from Australia for a jacket potato?
Nobody with mor than one brain cell is my guess!!

You can still be part of something without being daft or doing something dodgy (like buying anti-aging cream for a child).

Having seen the updates that he is giving them away for charity puts a different shine on it. Wouldn't queue for hours for a free spud though, but would go along to show support maybe.

A fool and his money are soon parted
People will buy anything featured on SM; emperors new clothes, so good luck to those selling the new clothes

I bet good old Bettys queue would be similiar on the days they gave away free cakes...

But why ‘these days’?
People have always been sheep. It’s how we’re wired.

People have been queuing outside Betty’s in York for decades (iyswim. The queue is long but not that long) despite there being plenty of equally good or better places in York to get a cream tea.

People these days are such sheep….. it would make you question yourself though and anyone who is not a sheep is almost seen as an outsider as if you are the odd one….. your friend was probably doing it because her nephew wanted to though otherwise what clown would stand in a queue for more than 15mins waiting for a bloody jacket potato no matter how good it was

Also on the baked potato thing, I have seen videos of Americans experiencing it for the first time and being amazed with it. They are even crediting some other American Tik Tok-er for coming up with the concept of a baked potato, cheese and beans 🙄

Of course the comments from Brits are hilarious, especially when they use American version of beans which are certainly not Heinz!