Dozens of locals and visitors lined up at Hot Spot in Billesley to grab a cone of chips for just 20p, as the Birmingham eatery’s viral TikTok campaign drew crowds eager to relive “the good old days.”
The promotion, launched by owner Nassar “Uncle Nas” Iqbal, offers plain chips loaded with salt and vinegar, reminiscent of school lunches and childhood treats from the 1980s. Hot Spot, which opened in 2004, has gained a surge in popularity thanks to social media attention in recent months.
Teenager Hanifa Rice, 18, arrived over an hour before the sale began after seeing the deal on TikTok. She said: “I thought it’d just be funny to come around! I love going to the chippy with my friends, but it really depends on what everyone wants.”
Uncle Nas, who met customers beneath a balloon arch outside the shop, explained the idea behind the deal: “I’m just teaching the kids what it was like when we didn’t have any of these fancy things. Back then, fish was a big luxury, but at lunchtimes, we’d sneak out for chips loaded with extra salt and vinegar. Anything free was a bonus.”
The shop, featuring modern amenities such as a self-service machine, colourful milkshake counter, and ice cream machine, has become a local social media hotspot. Uncle Nas said he stocked up on extra potatoes for the event, supplied by Copes Potatoes, a long-term partner.
The 20p chip promotion is designed to offer a taste of nostalgia for the community, particularly young people from nearby schools, while generating online buzz across TikTok.
