Friends who lost jobs in lockdown thrilled with success of Blackburn takeaway business

Nathan Marsden, 28, Jacob Griffin, 24 and Kalum Bromage, 24, were laid off during the first lockdown back in March and the pals came up with an idea to start cooking for friends and family.

They started making pizzas and loaded fries and after receiving such good feedback, they started getting requests from more people so decided to set up Tewwstep takeaway from their kitchens.

They continued getting busier and busier and by June, the trio began looking for a premises in Blackburn to keep up with the demand.

Nathan said: “I keep telling people who ask where we started that we never expected to be more than a quiet little shop selling a few pizzas and that would be it.

“Once we had got people asking us for food, we started looking for premises. The same day we started looking the shop we are in now went on the market.

“We had another chat and said ‘let’s do it, let’s take the gamble’.

“It is only a year lease so we have got the option to extend it if we want to which we 100 per cent are.”

After moving into the new shop in Albert Street, Blackburn, on July 1, the trio refurbished it before opening to the public just a couple of weeks later.

Jacob, who was head chef at The Pack in Belthorn and worked at the Assheton Arms in Downham, and Kalum, who worked alongside him as a waiter, were both made redundant from their old jobs during lockdown.

Although this was a devastating blow for the pair, it came just as the business started to take off.

The menu consists of classic takeaway specials such as pizzas, wraps and loaded fries and is available on the JustEat website and app.

Nathan added: “We are so grateful to the community to for taking to us so well.

“We are truly grateful that the small vision we had when we were sat at home on furlough has led us to where we are seven months down the line.”

The takeaway, which is open from Wednesday to Sunday, takes around 400 orders per week.