Our Story
“A Preston Legacy”
Preston Flag Market
Harold MacMillan was Prime Minister and a pint of milk cost three pence when Ernie Rhodes set up his hot potato cart on Preston’s flag market in 1955.
Many a restaurant has come and gone in that time, but the trusty old tram still remains as a Prestonian favourite, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a single local that couldn’t tell you the location of the best parched peas in the UK.
(It was on the Preston Flag Market in Preston town centre in case you aren’t from these parts).
Ernie Rhodes
Ernie Rhodes set up his hot potato cart on the flag market in 1955. His nephew, Keith Roberts, began working for him at the age of ten, stoking the converted fire pump which had once served the folk of Blackburn, with wood, coal or anything combustible.
Covered in soot, little Keith looked like nothing more than a Victorian chimney sweep.
Keith Roberts (Snr)
At length, the apprentice became the master and Keith took over the enterprise in 1978, continuing to run the Hot Potato Tram until 2008.
Keith Roberts (Jnr)
Keith’s son …. also Keith, in turn took over from his father in 2008 and four years later bought the tram which became an attractive and reassuring feature of the town centre.
Sadly, much mourned, the popular Keith Jnr passed away prematurely in 2020, but before his passing, Keith contacted his old friend Tony Nelson to ask if he would be willing to take over the business.
Keith had given Tony’s daughter and son, Brittany and Jake, their first part-time jobs.
He wanted the venture to remain a family affair and trusted Tony to retain its character.
Tony Nelson
A trained chef, former sales director for Carlsberg, and married to Helena, a consultant in the food industry, Tony accepted with alacrity.
The father and son tradition continued as Tony and Harley took over.
The wood and coal, of course, are long gone but the old ethos of friendly service endured as Tony then involved his other son Jake.
The TikTok brothers soon took the internet by storm and rebranded to SpudBros…..Their story continues down their own avenue, but the Hot Potato Tram still continues to provide some seriously tasty scran!
BOOK NOW !
Prestonians have always looked for the familiar sight of the welcoming tram in its customary place on Preston Flag Market.
However, you can’t really find us on the Flag Market anymore (there just isn’t enough room) – we have given way to SpudBros, but….we are mobile!
Yes….that’s right! We will bring our snazzy little potato tram to you at your event!