A Tidworth business has relaunched after being made homeless during the pandemic.

Pothead & Panface provided a variety of breakfasts, burgers and pizzas from its home on Station Road, but was forced to leave the premises in March after its lease expired and wasn’t renewed. However, it has now relaunched in a trailer on the street, which opens today (Friday, May 21).

Speaking ahead of the reopening, owner Irene Smith told the Advertiser: “It’s been a long trek. We’ve had a lot of adversity to face in setting up a little trailer but it’s fabulous to be back. We’re a bit nervous getting all the things together now.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback on Facebook so we’re feeling positive, we just need people to turn up now and come and give us some pennies!”

Pothead and Panface announced in January that it would be closing its doors after its lease wasn’t renewed. At the time, it promised that it had ‘aces up its sleeves’ for a return.

It donated all of the contents of its bistro to the Tedworth Equestrian Charity, where the equipment is being used to help redevelop the charity’s clubhouse. Later on, in March, it revealed it would return with a new outpost on Station Road, setting up a trailer outside Tesco. Irene said that a trailer plan had been considered for some time.

“Had I been able to keep hold of the shop, this could have happened concurrently to it,” she said, “but it had to go on hold.”

The trailer was due to debut on May 3, but had to be delayed until May 21 due to “teething problems”, with Irene saying that chef Liam faces more challenges in the new setting. Due to the smaller size, the menu has been cut back to focus on burgers and wraps.

“He has had to go from a kitchen to a tiny space,” she said, “so it’s getting used to a new system of working because it’s so small. Until it actually opens you won’t know what problems will come up so it’s not the same as working in a shop.

“It’s like starting again really as you don’t know the pitfalls until they happen. It’s a task ahead for him.”

Once it has opened, Irene is hoping for a good response from locals, with the possibility to expand to more trailers in the future.

“There’s been a number of calls for private functions,” she said. “We’re keeping it at Tesco for now, and if we don’t get too many hiccups then in the future it should be able to carry on with maybe a second trailer to go on to do events and weddings.”

Pothead and Panface opens today on Station Road, and is open from 11:30-20:00.