World's first crisp sandwich shop becomes a reality

The “world’s first” crisp sandwich shop is the latest quirky café to open its doors to customers.

Simply Crispy, located in Belfast, sold out of sandwiches within two hours of opening after crowds of people queued to sample the culinary delights.

The pop-up cafe offering 35 different flavours opened following a spoof suggestion by the Ulster Fry satirical website in the wake of the Cereal Killer Café opening in London.

To make the sandwiches, a precarious-looking pile of crisps is quickly compressed with a crunch by two weighty slabs of thickly-buttered white bread known as a Belfast bap, which is approaching burned and relatively tough on the top, but fluffy on the inside.

Customer Nerys Coleman, 32, from Belfast said: "It is something from your childhood. I have not had a crisp sandwich since university and before that childhood so it is bringing back the nostalgia."

Despite one curious passer-by putting her head through the door and asking: "Are you for real?", owner Andrew McMenamin, 35, from west Belfast, said it was a serious business venture.

"I have been told it is the world's first," he said.

He said a Belfast bap and Tayto cheese and onion were the most popular choices.

"It is a school thing, people remember it from their school days, it is a classic and it is old-school."

Mr McMenamin, who owns That Wee Cafe, offered to transform his business when he read the spoof online. It is expected to run for three or four weeks.

Customers were able to choose their bread, crisps and add cheese or ham to their sandwich, served with tomato soup and chips.

On the menu at 8 Bedford Street are intriguing combinations that include traditional flavours such as prawn cocktail and spring onion, alongside Monster Munch and Frazzles.

Ms Coleman, who works for a firm specialising in foreign direct investment data, said she would not call every day but added lunch cost her around £3.

"We just decided to come round to lunch for the novelty - but we really like crisps as well."

She had smoky bacon flavour in a Belfast bap with chips.

"It is lovely, I think it is good and I would probably come back if I had a notion for a sandwich."

She said she liked the convenience - despite the obvious health issues.

Tayto, a Northern Ireland-based crisp manufacturer which is one of the largest distributors in the UK, provides most of the crisps "due to its large variety", but Walkers is also represented.

Mr McMenamin added: "We are riding on the back of the publicity the cereal cafe got in London, if it helps us and Ulster Fry then it is a good thing."