First Spud 'luxury fast food' site opens in Covent Garden
Spud aims to be a gourmet fast-food venue with a “quintessentially British” feel and a fun, modern design.
Launched as a joint venture by Livelyhood owner Sarah Wall and the former general manager at Four O Nine restaurant, Paul Williamson, Spud offers both a take-away service upstairs, as well as a retro-furnished seating space in the basement, due to open in mid-August.
Australian spud inspiration
Williamson, who holds 60 per cent stake in the business, was inspired to create the concept by the fast food scene in Melbourne, particularly the growing business Spudbar, which aims to sell “healthy, hearty and delicious” fast food.
According to a spokesperson for Spud, Williamson and Wall felt there was a gap in the UK market for a similar concept.
“There’s sushi galore, burritos galore, gourmet sandwiches galore. But there was an opportunity to do something quintessentially British, but also quite different to what you’d find on your high street right now.
“The drive for Spud was to provide toppings that were not only nutritious but also s bit different, a bit gourmet.”
Style and prices
Located on New Row in Covent Garden, the new site aims for a “fresh” and “stylish” design, with doodle-like illustrations of potato plants combined with reclaimed marble counter tops, brick tiles and timber panelling.
The seating area downstairs, which will be named Underspud, will include around 25 covers made up of a collection of 60’s and 70’s stools and tables.
Potatoes are cooked slowly throughout the morning, to achieve crispy skin and fluffy potato. Customers choose their option of butter, which includes variations such as herb and Cornish rock, and then choose their preferred topping out of a selection of around seven options.
The basic option – called Simply Spud Me, includes butter, crème frèche and cheddar cheese, and is sold at £2.50. The most expensive option – as £5.50 – is braised barbecue pork, Cox applie slaw and barrel aged feta.
A basic selection of alcohol will also be on offer, in order to appeal to the evening crowds.
Williamson and Wall hope to open “another few” venues within the next year or so, with an initial focus on London, and a potential site being eyed up in Soho.
