For almost two decades, Sajid Patel, 56, has cooked in a silver trailer.

His mobile restaurant is easy to miss, tucked in front of Boots and with only a small sign on the top.

Tubs of herbed butter rest on the sides of its cooker. His secret recipe.

For 18 years, Sajid has served kebabs in Rolls n Wraps, his mobile food truck on Bolton town centre’s Mealhouse Lane.

Times have been tough, but the business has stayed afloat.

Sajid said: “For the first ten years we were open, the town centre was really busy. Even during Christmas, people started shopping as soon as October came.

“But now, everything just shuts down at 5pm. After 3pm there’s hardly anybody in town.

“Footfall never went up since after coronavirus.”

Sajid PatelSajid Patel (Image: Newsquest)

The shop, located behind Primark, does see customers who are peckish after shopping or working in the town centre.

Sajid said: “Customers do come from Primark and ones that work in offices and shops. But since coronavirus, half of the staff work from home.”  

And like many businesses, his mobile kitchen has also felt the sting of the cost-of-living crisis.

He said: “I used to buy a gas bottle for £16, now it’s £33. Just one gas bottle, which lasts me a very short time.

“Gas prices have gone up at the same time as food. Last year, I used to buy 10 kilograms of chicken for £40, now it costs £60.”

Sajid has prided himself on freshly made wraps. The chicken tikka and Sikh kebab wraps are most popular. Fresh, tender and warmly spiced, they cost £5.00 each.  

But he said he cannot double his prices to reflect costs.

He said: “Wholesalers have raised their prices, but as retailers we can’t.

 “People like kebabs, I also love them, but I can’t charge £7.00.

“People can’t afford it. So, our profit margin is shrinking.”

As an independent business owner, Sajid can control some of his costs.

He said: “I’m working on my own. I can’t hire extra staff.”

A customer who regularly visits the take-away: “When we pass, we get something from here.

“I think they have clean food so why not? It’s nice, it’s cooked well.”