Spud Queen owner on taking inspiration from TikTok stars

Nikkie Lewis, 51, is the owner of Spud Queen on Faverdale Industrial Estate.

Nikkie, who is originally from Blackpool, revealed her inspiration for the van and how the idea came about.

She said: “I was watching TikToks of the Spud Bros and Spudman and thought I’d love to have a little spud van. I looked around, and there were quite a few of them in Blackpool.

“My friends live in Darlington, so I thought ‘why not give it a go’. There was nothing really here and I was originally going to get a shop in the centre, and then this van came up. I got it all wrapped and made my own name, Spud Queen.”

She revealed one of her friends was also an inspiration behind her decision to open.

“Watching TikToks did inspire me to open the van, but a friend of mine opened a shop in Blackpool, and they were queuing around the block. She helped me a lot. I was asking what bowls I need and things like that. She helped me so much over the phone in setting up the business,” she explained.

Nikkie said the best thing about Darlington is the ‘craic’ with customers (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“Obviously, the Spud Bros are in Preston, down the road where I was in Blackpool. I was watching them and Spudman and thought I would just give it a go.”

Before moving to Darlington, Nikkie lived in Blackpool all her life and worked with children in care. She had never cooked professionally in her life before making the decision to open a spud van.

But the Spud Queen said she has had help from close friend and co-worker, Lisa Ward.

Nikkie said: “I had never done anything like this and never had any professional cooking experience. I did all the food hygiene myself, studied everything online, how the ovens work, and the temperature the potatoes need to be cooked at. It took a lot of prep to get it where I wanted it. I can cook, but I have never done anything professionally before.

“I have had so much support from Lisa. Her background has always been in food, so I have learnt quite a lot from her as well. She does most of the cooking, I do the running about and serving.”

Every spud is cooked fresh in the van, with each day bringing a new ‘special’. Nikkie revealed where this idea came from and how it is decided what ‘special’ to cook each day.

She said: “We post every morning at about 10.30am about what the day’s special is. In terms of how the special is chosen, we have a suggestion box on the van where customers can write what they want on a spud.

“Chilli with cheese and crispy onions is a favourite, as is the curry. Customers all want a different special, so one day last week we did minted lamb, which customers love.

“In the summer, we did cold fillings, but now people want winter warmers, and we try to please everyone. We have started to do bolognaise every day with cheese, which is another favourite.”

Spud Queen is also popular with children who love a cheese and beans jacket potato. Nikkie said she is often told by children that her spuds are “gorgeous”.

She has also started serving a Christmas spud from Monday – Friday.

“Last Monday, I had a queue down the street because I was doing a Christmas dinner jacket potato. It is turkey and all the trimmings on a spud. I had to turn people away that day because we sold out in just over two hours.”

Nikkie said she was inspired by Spud Bros and Spudman on TikTok (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

And she said the first four months have been “amazing”.

“Since opening, it has been amazing. We buy everything fresh every day and cook it fresh in the van, nothing is frozen,” Nikkie added.

“I love it, it’s great when people start queuing early. Some mornings we think it’s quiet, then it hits 12pm, and they come from nowhere. Word is spreading. I have had people at the van today who didn’t know about it. I have a lot of regulars, a lot of the workmen are here every day, and I tell them they’re going to turn into a spud!”

And the Lancashire lass has revealed the best thing about Darlington.

She said: “The people. The craic, which I never said until I opened here, we have with them is amazing. The laughs we have and the atmosphere around the van, even when it’s raining, they come and we have a good laugh. I have met loads of nice people.”

And the Spud Queen also stated the importance of supporting independent businesses.

Nikkie said: “It is very important to support and continue to support independent businesses. Some people will say we have competition, but it is not like that. Everyone should support independent businesses and every business should support each other. Every small business which is opening up should support one another.”