Spud Inc. – brand-new food restaurant in Newport

There’s something more satisfying than having to buy an affordable, delicious jacket potato in the heart of Newport.

I had the opportunity to try the jacket potato and ordered the butter and cheese from the menu, and it was delicious. What is amazing about Spud Inc. is that the jacket potatoes are well-cooked, tasty, and many locals can’t get enough of them! These jacket potatoes have brought popularity in the town centre, and you can choose any toppings as you like.

Spud Inc. started out as a food van in 2024, located in Friars Walk. Which later brought popularity all across the town centre in Newport, as customers used to sit outside, enjoyed the delicacy and rated the reviews to be a 10/10!

Then, the business expanded, and it was later decided to transform into a restaurant at the same location. Customers are welcome to sit, eat their favourite meal and enjoy the view of Newport’s riverfront.

Gareth Jones, the owner of Spud Inc, came up with the idea of opening the van outside of town centre. He explained that he found the inspiration from an East End London-style pie and mashed potato.

I interviewed Jones, and he mentioned how he first started the business:

“Basically, I’m a HGV driver in Newport and in between, I came up with the idea of opening a small business, food business. We had a small 12-month in the trailer and we grew into a shop and move the trailer to other parts in town. We were looking into what was missing in town and decided to do something more traditional. But mostly, importantly it’s something that people can afford. Helping the town centre, helping other people.”

Jones went more in-depth on how he struggled with his own mental health and later overcame it. It inspired him to open a restaurant and to support the community that suffers from mental health issues. He wants to offer his services towards the community and discussed that he wants to take part in a fundraising event.

He also included that he designed the restaurant into a theme of London-style East End mash potato combined with Welsh culture pie. Along with a flag of Newport County A.F.C. to support his local football team.

I would like to recommend everyone to visit the Spud Inc restaurant and enjoy the simplicity of the traditional jacket potato.

Written by: Seema Boksh

Photograph by: Seema Boksh