Fully Loaded at Waffle Time
Sector:
Hospitality – Street Food & Desserts
Location:
Portland Walk, Barrow-in-Furness
Jamie Thorpe is the founder of Fully Loaded at Waffle Time, two vibrant food ventures under one roof that have brought a fresh, exciting energy to Barrow’s town centre.
With a passion for cooking and a flair for creating memorable experiences, Jamie has built a business that’s as much about community as it is about cuisine.
“My dream was to open a restaurant for the Barrow community – something Barrow didn’t have,” Jamie said. “I wanted to bring a new experience to the town, something fun, quirky, and full of flavour.”
Fully Loaded began on an industrial estate on the outskirts of Barrow, offering a street food-inspired menu that quickly gained a loyal following.
But Jamie realised that to truly thrive, he needed to be where the people were. “I loved where I started, but there wasn’t the footfall,” he explained.
“People didn’t realise I was there – they had to come and find me. That’s why I got excited about moving into the town centre.”
The move to the town centre was a turning point. With increased visibility and a growing buzz around Barrow’s regeneration, Fully Loaded at Waffle Time has started to attract a new crowd.
“There’s so much investment coming into the town. It’s a fantastic time to be doing business here. We’re seeing new businesses pop up, more people moving in, and more footfall in the town centre.”
“There’s a vibrant, positive buzz and atmosphere in the air,” Jamie said. “You can really feel it. It’s only going to get better.”
Jamie’s menu is anything but ordinary. Inspired by street food trends and shaped by customer feedback, it offers loaded bowls, burgers, and indulgent desserts. “I spent an awful long time researching the likes of YouTube and TikTok, seeing what people were enjoying in other areas,” he said. “Then I created a niche menu that’s different from anything else in the town centre.”
The Cajun chicken loaded bowl is a standout favourite. “It’s not too spicy, but there’s a little hum there,” Jamie said. “It’s cooked with fresh chicken and generous portion sizes. It’s rich, satisfying, and it goes with the name – Fully Loaded.”
Waffle Time complements the savoury side with a full dessert experience. From Belgian waffles and bubble waffles to homemade cakes and ice cream sundaes, it’s a place where families can treat themselves.
“We want people to come in and have an experience they don’t get every day seeing someone’s face light up when you serve them a beautiful waffle – that’s the best feeling,” Jamie said.
Jamie’s approach to business is rooted in collaboration. “We’re not competing – we’re supporting each other,” he says of neighbouring businesses. “Business brings business. If we all offer something different, we’ll bring more people into the area.”
He is passionate about Barrow’s future. “There’s so much investment coming into the town. It’s a fantastic time to be doing business here. We’re seeing new businesses pop up, more people moving in, and more footfall in the town centre.”
And Jamie is particularly excited about the ripple effect of major town centre developments.
“Once they open, there’ll be even more people coming into town. That benefits all of us as small businesses. And if we’re growing, we can support the people of Barrow by employing more people and bringing extra revenue into the town centre.
“There’s a real buzz here,” he said. “It’s changing, and you can feel it every day.”
“Business brings business. If we all offer something different, we’ll bring more people into the area.”
