An enthusiast of Pot Noodle has elevated his passion to festive new levels, decking out his home for Christmas with more than the usual sparkle. Instead of just tinsel and baubles, his abode is bedecked with a trove of Pot Noodle memorabilia accumulated from devouring over 4,700 pots and amassing a collection valued at £4,000.
Dean Pugh, a father of three hailing from Pershore, Worcestershire, has transformed his lounge into a veritable Pot Noodle haven, crowned with a bespoke Christmas tree festooned with exclusive crackers, rare discontinued flavours, and an unconventional tree-topper a 90s mascot known as Ned The Noodle.
Foregoing the traditional Christmas turkey and fixings, Dean, 56, is set to savour a ‘Christmas Dinner’ flavour Pot Noodle on December 25th, and is also excited about receiving a stash of them as a festive hamper. His living room stands as a homage to the iconic snack featuring vending machines, vintage advertisements, and a special Chicken Korma pot autographed by the celebrated Caprice from the 90s, reports the Mirror.
On his distinctive Yuletide theme, Dean commented, “I just thought it would be a bit of fun although the wife doesn’t quite agree.”
He went on to reveal, “I’ve spent years building up this collection and have become known across the world as the Pot Noodle King, so I thought I should show it off at Christmas too.”
For those wedded to the same old festive decor, he has a piece of advice: “People always have the same old decorations up each year so I thought I’d do something a bit different. I think it looks fantastic but the wife thinks I’m nuts. She’s just learnt to tolerate it but my daughter loves it.”
He’s made quite the unique choice for the angel atop his tree, explaining, “The angel on top is a Pot Noodle mascot which you had to send tokens off for years ago. He’s called Ned the Noodle and they fetch about £60 on eBay. I’ll be having Pot Noodle Christmas Dinner flavour on Christmas Day, although it went out of date in 2011 so I hope it doesn’t make me ill.”
It seems his love for the snack is well-known as he shares, “The family know to get me a Pot Noodle hamper – what else would the Pot Noodle King have for Christmas? ” Moreover, he’s using his passion for a good cause: “There’s two lads in Worcester collecting Pot Noodles to help feed the homeless this Christmas and I’ll be donating to them so its all about good causes too.”
Dean, a plasterer who shares his life with his wife Louise, got the nickname ‘Mr Noodle’ from friends during metal detecting trips due to his penchant for bringing along a Pot Noodle or two. That habit escalated roughly 11 years ago when he started eating them daily.
While he enjoys the classic Chicken and Mushroom variety, he does favor the spicier Bombay Bad Boy.
Dean, a dedicated Pot Noodle enthusiast, actively searches the internet for rare, unopened pots of discontinued flavours such as Mac and Cheese, Spicy Curry, and Brazilian Barbecue Steak, often securing them through eBay. He even invested £500 in a vending machine from a racecourse that not only dispenses his beloved snack but also plays music.
In an extraordinary act of charity, Dean once ate a Beef and Tomato Pot Noodle 14 years past its sell-by date. He explained: “I just like Pot Noodles because they are a quick, easy, tasty snack. But now that’s all I’m known for.”
He doesn’t seem to mind the notoriety, though, saying: “I don’t mind though, it’s a fun thing to be known for and cheers people up. People contact me from all over the world saying how brilliant it is. I get sent Pot Noodle memorabilia in the post, I had some Pot Noodle earrings the other day. It started as a habit which grew into a massive hobby and now I’m always on the lookout for new additions to my collection, I look online constantly for items.”