Spud Man mania gridlocks Gwynedd village delighting fans and disappointing others
For a few hours, an entire seaside village in Gwynedd ground to a standstill. The sun was out, the beach looked welcoming, but that wasn't the reason: people had travelled for miles to queue for a jacket potato.
Places traded for a reported £5 as spud lovers waited their turn in Dinas Dinlle, near Caernarfon. It was worth it: a local mum wailed she was 'gutted' when queue security told her the potatoes had run out.
All were there to meet a dad-of-nine with a pink mohawk – and to have the privilege of being served a jacket potato from his van. Ben Newman, aka Spud Man, happens to be a TikTok sensation with a huge social media fanbase.
He was in Dinas Dinlle not to cultivate his following but to support a good cause. As a former kidney dialysis patient at Royal Derby Hospital, he was keen to back a fundraising cause centered on a unique dialysis facility at Dinlle Caravan Park.
In 2008, the hospital's trust set up a dialysis treatment unit in a static caravan at the park. The idea was to facilitate holidays for dialysis patients who would otherwise struggle to leave home for more than a day or two.
Health officials came up with the idea after discovering many of their patients visited Gwynedd on holiday. The scheme is massively popular – but the old static caravan is now showing its age. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community
Hospital supporters now need to raise £80,000 to buy and equip a new static. So far more than £23,000 has been donated. 'We don't want to lose this amazing provision which means so much to many of our patients and their families,' said treatment technician and chief fundraiser Toni Stanley.
(Image: Dinlle Caravan Park)
Promising a 'spud-tacular day' at the caravan park, Spud Man fans descended on Dinas Dinlle in their droves. Some locals weren't impressed – but Spud Man was, extolling the 'gorgeous beach' as he posed for pre-event photos.
Afterwards he posted a TikTok showing a boy receiving a freebie. The reason? The youngster was pitching into the latest trend – 'bring your own bag'. On this occasion it was a full packet of Doritos on which a potato was served with lashings of cheese and baked beans.
Freebies are par for the course – Spud Man always gives free jacket potatoes to people aged over 70. To raise money for Kidney Research UK – a cause close to his heart – he staged a 'free day' in January giving away potatoes to everyone.
Some fans come from as far afield as New Zealand. As always, the waiting crowds at Dinlle Caravan Park were good natured – queuing for Spud Man potatoes has been likened to the atmosphere at a Taylor Swift concert. One mum said she was dragged to the event by her 'Spud Man-obsessed' daughter.
(Image: Dinlle Caravan Park)
Even so, one visitor said things became a little manic at times. 'That queue was wild right at the back,' he told Spud Man. 'There were kids offering £5 to jump the queue
'You need to raise your prices as I had to do a double take on your prices – £5 for a filled spud! On Anglesey I would pay £8 for that with a extra 50p for crispy onions!'
Spud Man has been baking potatoes in Tamworth, Staffordshire, for more than 20 years. Since starting his TikTok account in 2021, often livestreaming his customer interactions, his popularity has soared. He now has 4.4m followers on TikTok, 1.7 million on Facebook and more than 487,000 on Instagram.
It being Spud Man's first visit to Wales, followers cancelled all appointments. 'Can't wait to see you!!!!,' said a Ffestiniog heritage railway volunteer online. 'It's my dream to have a jacket potato and meet you!!!
(Image: Dinlle Caravan Park)
Sadly, the pre-event messaging didn't reach everyone. On social media, bereft fans mourned the missed opportunity, begging him to return to Wales and bring his van to places like Wrexham, Mold and Prestatyn. 'Please come to Anglesey at some point soon,' said one woman. 'Lots if us would love it, and you would too!'
Another added: 'You'll have to do a tour of Wales so we all get the chance to experience some of your amazing food xx.' Agreeing, a woman said: 'Would love Spud Man to come to Llandudno x.' In more hope than expectation, a man pleaded: 'Even Rhyl would be nice...'
On the day, and at a pre-event bingo night, Dinlle Caravan Park collected £5,134.56, all of which will be donated to the fundraiser. At last weekend's event, hospital dialysis staff were on hand to demonstrate the scheme's benefits. The appeal's JustGiving page can be found here.
Thanking Spud Man, a spokesperson said he had proved that 'good food and good deeds go hand in hand'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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