The restaurant inside a corner shop - Liverpool Echo

The restaurant inside a corner shopA dedicated jacket-potato fast-food restaurant is hidden inside a convenience storeWhat's OnPaul McAuley Community reporter09:54, 30 May 2025Updated 10:41,

30 May 2025Potat-oh!'s store manager Ayanika Paul and worker Drishya(Image: Andrew Teebay) A unique restaurant that you likely didn’t even know existed began with a “simple thought”.

Potat-oh! opened six months ago on Prescot Street, just before you reach Kensington.

However, if you were to take a stroll along the road, you might not initially see it. This is because the fast-food brand is located inside One Stop, a convenience store owned by Tesco, and

blends in with the same colours as the Post Office.

‌ The company is the brainchild of Ronak Patel, Rushab Noshi and Sagar Patel. The three men said the journey began when they all began questioning why “one of the UK’s favourite comfort

foods” isn’t more accessible.

‌ As Ronak, a 37-year-old based in London, explained to the ECHO, he believes the group’s concept will change this by turning the “class spud into a grab-and-go experience, perfect for

today’s fast-paced lifestyle”.

Store manager Ayanika Paul The business owner, who previously worked in the hospitality industry in gastropubs, said: “Jacket potato has had a big surge in the last few years. The likes of

SpudBros and Spud Man have done an incredible job in bringing to life what is a very staple item in the UK. It’s loved by everyone, and it's a home-comfort offering.

Article continues below “Subway was a big model we followed. We like the fact that it was a customisable approach and how it was made suited to you. You start at one end and end at the

other, however you like it. It’s a workable concept.

“There was a gap in the market, and I think we filled it. There are a lot of kiosks and carts popping up, but there isn’t a dedicated jacket potato shop.

“And that’s what we are; that’s why we exist. We haven’t seen anyone open like this before. KFC, McDonald’s, Subway - none of them have done it, and they are likely missing out. It’s a place

that deserves to be on the high street.”

‌Potat-oh! on Prescot Street is the first site from the company that plans to have more all over the UK(Image: Andrew Teebay) At the Unit B venue, customers are greeted with an effortless

ordering system: pick your spud, fill your spud, and finally dress your spud. Both hot and cold fillings are available, and there is a salad bar to top the meal off with.

Among the offerings are all the usual toppings, including sweetcorn, cheese, garlic butter, beans, mince, cucumber, and onion.

‌ There’s no denying that the jacket potato enjoyed a surge in popularity, primarily thanks to chefs-turned-TikTok creators sharing behind-the-scenes footage of customers' orders.

Despite these accounts having millions of followers, Rushab, a former University of Exeter student now based in India, believes Potat-oh will still be able to stand out.

Potat-oh! on Prescot Street is inside a convenience store owned by Tesco(Image: Andrew Teebay)‌ The 34-year-old accounting and finance graduate said: “As an international student, the

biggest thing I noticed was the lack of late-night offerings. It was very limited.

“For me, the British culture and delicacy might not work with my flavours per se, but because of the range of options available, it has spruced up the jacket potato in its own way. It lets

the newer generation appreciate a decade-old tradition. Every single spud tells a story.”

Although the company only has one site so far, Ronak said it has only “gotten stronger and stronger” with the introduction of meal deals.

‌ Ronak added: “One thing about a convenience store, they generally have high footfall. One Stop is actually a part of Tesco, and so we wanted to offer convenience alongside fast food. So

when we saw the space in Liverpool, it was perfect.

“It was a great opportunity to be beside the hospital and not far from student accommodation. It’s such a great city, and it's famous all over the world, so it was the ideal chance for our

first spot.

Article continues below “The vision is to be all over the UK. There are a lot of sites in the pipework - down in London, more up north, and in Birmingham. There are a busy few months ahead

of us.”