"Oh Boris, do shut up please"

Boris Johnson, the former Mayor of London, is a leading light campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union, but he finds Ostend English shop proprietor Peter Maenhoudt on his road.

Peter Maenhoudt, who through his mother has close ties to the UK, is firm in his convictions: "My customers all ask me 'What is going to happen?'. I do think the referendum will be pretty close, but people will use their common sense. I'm predicting a 52%-48% split in favour of Remain."

"There wouldn't have been this referendum, if the English hadn't been such chauvinists. People in the UK should think of their jobs. Staying in the EU makes you sure of your job, but if you leave, you can't be sure of your job any more."

"I can't imagine an EU without Britain, but an EU where you pick and choose what you want is not an option."

"The English on their island like to be their own boss, but build a bridge and they would have to adapt. At the moment many people in the UK benefit financially from Britain's EU membership, but the message from the media doesn't always ring true. Boris Johnson's Leave campaign, it's all froth and no beer. I accept all opinions. I have all the Sunday papers, but I won't stock the Sunday Express because they're not telling people the true story. It's an attempt at manipulation. In England they tell people whatever they like."

"What is certain to change are trade regulations. The English do have a choice to make: when you divorce you can't ask the judge to allow you to use the same bed as your ex spouse."

Peter Maenhoudt has few doubts about the outcome if Britain decides to leave the EU: "If they leave they will face a big recession. All the experts agree it will be a big blow to the pound. UK products could become cheaper here, but I believe they will soon have to put up prices and things will get more expensive."

At T Iengels Wienkeltje we bumped into Edith Lamonte (left top photo). She's a regular customer and had popped in because she fancied some English cake:

"No, the EU referendum isn't something I'm particularly concerned about. I doubt if it will affect me. If the Brits vote to leave the EU I certainly wish them well. If they have to put up prices and items in the English shop become more expensive, I won't be too bothered. I don't eat cake every day!"

A first time customer who happened to find herself in the shop was Mairelis Hernandez. She felt a bit peckish and fancied some shortbread: "No, I'm sorry I can't answer your questions. I wish I could. I wish I knew more about these issues, but I don't."

T Iengels Wienkeltje has been in business for three years now. Proprietor Peter Maenhoudt first tried the concept in the 1990's but had trouble sourcing stock. This time round he has no regrets:

"The time was right. Ostend people used to do their shopping in England. They would take the ferries to Dover or Ramsgate, but that's all in the past. Many people are still familiar with English brands and products. Some people come in asking for lines that haven't been marketed for twenty years."

"All our products are sourced in the UK. I organise everything myself. Two-thirds of my customers are Belgians. Maybe you want to make a proper English breakfast and this is where you come to find all the right ingredients including the sausages. A third of our customers are English. Many actually live here. Like I said, they can be a trifle chauvinistic and only like what they are familiar with. I have one customer who comes in for the English free range eggs... because 'the yoke of an English egg always stays in the middle when you cook it'".

"The English are often set in their ways. They go on a tobacco trip to the Continent, but before they get back on the coach they pop in to get a bite to eat for the trip back. Of course, English products also have a good reputation among Belgian folk."