In a city centre dominated by chains, one Birmingham street food van continues to stand the test of time. Mr. Bumble's Jacket Potatoes has been a lunchtime favourite for customers for the past 35 years.
As part of Mr Bumble, the husband and wife team of Rob and Leigh Paton have sold spuds at the same spot outside House of Fraser opposite a McDonald's and Greggs on Cherry Street for decades. Jacket potato street food vendors have seen a recent increase in popularity thanks to TikTok, but Mr Bumble is one of Birmingham's oldest street food vans. Thousands of potatoes later, the couple spoke to BirminghamLive about about their popularity, social media and why customers keep coming back for more.
Read More: I visited the 'bleak' Birmingham street and found a surprise at the end Leigh said: "You can't beat a humble potato, can you? I eat two a day and have done for 35 years. I'm fit as a flea and will be 63 next month. I think I'm a good advert for them.
We get loads of tourists now, particularly since Spudman blew up on TikTok. That's helped us all. Lesley Powell and Leigh Paton at Mr Bumble's Jacket Potatoes (Image: Robson McCallister/BirminghamLive) "Everybody came to tell us about him but he actually visited us in 2022.
Ben's a lovely man and said that his van in Tamworth was not doing particularly well so we had a big moan about how shocking trade had been since Covid . "It's now taken off and fair play to him. We're too old for TikTok, we're 63 this year.
I've never wanted t.
