A British expat, feeling nostalgic for a taste of home, recently flew from Spain to the UK with one goal in mind: to enjoy a meal at Nando’s.
Mark Rofe, a 34-year-old originally from Surrey but now living in Barcelona, embarked on the quick trip on October 2.
Skipping visits to family and friends, Mark headed straight from the airport to the popular chicken restaurant to satisfy his craving for some spicy chicken.
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Mark’s entire stay in the UK lasted just two hours and 40 minutes before he was back on a flight to Spain.
Although he acknowledges the move was “strange,” he said he just couldn’t resist the opportunity.
The entire adventure cost him only £95.39, which covered both flights, his meal at Nando’s, and a few takeaway sauces.
“I love living in Spain. Every British expat I’ve met here feels the same way,” Mark shared with Luxury Travel Daily.
“But when it comes to the things we miss from the UK, food is always the first thing we talk about. Whether it’s Greggs, fish and chips, Cadbury’s, or my personal favorite – Nando’s.”
“When I saw the flights from Barcelona to Gatwick were reasonably priced, I just had to take the chance,” he explained.
“Nando’s holds a special place for me. It’s unique in what it offers, and while it’s not originally British, it feels like a part of British culture now—after all, even Ed Sheeran wrote a song about it! There’s just nothing quite like it, and nothing in Spain comes close.”
Mark’s return flight with Vueling cost him £44. He departed Barcelona at 12:25 pm and landed at Gatwick by 1:50 pm.
Luckily, there were no delays, giving him the perfect window to grab his meal before his 4:30 pm flight back to Spain.
Conveniently, there’s a Nando’s located in Gatwick’s South Terminal, meaning Mark had plenty of time to enjoy his meal without rushing.
“I know some people will wonder why I didn’t just try to recreate the meal at home,” he said. “Believe me, I’ve tried—but it’s just not the same.
Plus, you’d be overestimating my cooking abilities! My friends and family probably thought I was joking when I told them about my plan.
When they realized I was serious, I think they thought I was a bit of an idiot—and honestly, they’re not wrong!”
For his meal, Mark indulged in a hot boneless chicken thigh, a quarter chicken with medium spice, mash (which he admits was “a disappointing mistake”), and macho peas.
To top it off, he also grabbed a chicken wrap to go, which he later enjoyed on the plane as his dinner.
Mark found the experience convenient, especially with the quick service. “It was perfect because the location made it easy to get my meal and head straight to my return flight,” he noted.
To his delight, he also discovered that Nando’s sells its own range of sauces. “I didn’t know they sold sauces, but I asked, and to my surprise, they did! So, I grabbed a gift pack with five different flavors. No regrets at all!”
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