Chip shop owner strikes gold with sales of sex drug
A chip shop in Newcastle is offering the sex drug amyl nitrate for sale to its customers.
The "little something extra" (quite legal) being offered by proprietor Saj Mohammed at the Happy Chip Shop is doubtless appreciated by many who enjoy a night out in Newcastle.
But it's probably not quite what city councillors had in mind when they announced a multi-million-pound revamp of the Geordie gay village.
It's now one year since the council announced plans for the redevelopment of the "pink triangle", based on the Waterloo Street area. There are plans for a 100-bedroom hotel as well as new restaurants, bars and clubs, although various planning wrangles have held up progress.
Newcastle's "straight" scene already boasts 160 bars, 125 restaurants and 16 nightclubs serving an estimated 80,000 revellers each weekend.
Councillors now want to make the run-down gay quarter equally successful in the hope of competing with Manchester, Leeds and London.
Mohammed is more optimistic. Situated directly opposite the Power House nightclub, his "disco chippy" is open until 5am and, as well as amyl nitrate - known as poppers - and take-away food, he likes to give his customers personal advice.
Mohammed said: "I'm a sort of agony aunt. I give them advice if they have any problems in their love life.
"I think it's great around here and I think things will get a lot better.
"My business is one of those facing demolition but I hope to open another shop and take on even more staff."
by Nigel Green
