A JACKET potato restaurant serving up the "ultimate comfort food" is set to open its second site in mid Essex. 

Business owner, Paul Baker, 76, first launched Spudmania in Braintree earlier this year, offering takeaway jacket potatoes from a catering van.

Now it is set to expand with a new site in Witham. 

Mr Baker’s daughter and business social media manager, Aimee Baker said: “We opened our first Spudmania in Braintree a few months back.

“We quickly became very busy and realised how sought after something as simple but delicious a jacket potato is.

“We then decided it would be a great idea to bring Spudmania to Witham.

“The town is growing, and we feel there is a space for something a little different.

“Witham has plenty of takeaway/restaurant options, but there is yet to be somewhere that specialises in offering just jacket potato’s.”

The business’s second site in Witham will at 2 Church street on Chipping hill from next week.

The Baker family own the White Horse pub and will operate in the pub’s car park from the new restaurant.

Spudmania will open Tuesday to Saturday every week, from 12pm – 8pm, offering take-away jacket potatoes with various topping choices, like beans and cheese, tuna, or homemade curry and chilli.

Aimee added: “We have plenty of parking.”

“We are a family run business, and this shines throughout.

“We pride ourselves on offering the best jacket potatoes with generous portion sizes.

“We are currently refurbishing our restaurant ready for next week to invite all of our customers in and start our spud family in Witham.”

The restaurant will host it’s grand opening event on Friday November 29 at 12pm.

Aimee said: ”We plan to make this a big day to welcome new customers.”

“We are really excited about bringing this to Witham, and hopefully meeting some new faces.

“We wanted to bring something new to a town we as a family have all grown up in.”

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