Surrey StrEatery, Croydon’s new food hub has opened, supported by funding from the Mayor of London’s Regeneration Fund and Croydon Council, with seven budding street food traders given the chance to make their dreams a reality. The new Surrey StrEatery has opened at a vacant shop at Bridge House, Surrey Street, Croydon.
Running until March next year, Surrey StrEatery is open throughout the day serving up breakfast and lunch, while the evening will feature cookery demonstrations, pop-up restaurants and community events.
In the demonstration kitchen, chefs and local food sellers will cook dishes using ingredients sourced from the nearby market in Surrey Street.
The Mayor’s Regeneration Fund has given the seven traders grants of up to £3,000 towards the cost of their stall and running a demo area for teaching, cooking demonstrations and workshops.
They will also be given six months’ support to help them build their businesses.
This includes a tailored package of free space to trade, with no rent, rates or utility bills.
Training and mentoring is also included, as well as the offer of a professional marketing campaign to help promote the area as a destination for lovers of quality street food.
The aim is to create at least 14 new jobs from supporting these businesses (two jobs per business).
Councillor Toni Letts, cabinet member for economic development commented:
“What better way to bring a vacant shop into use than by turning it into a vibrant, bustling eatery serving up quality street food which everyone can enjoy? There are not many markets like the one we have in Surrey Street. It’s a really fantastic resource which this project taps into, by ensuring all ingredients are sourced directly from the market. I’m sure this will be a very popular initiative, and I can’t wait to visit and try out the wonderful variety of cuisine on offer.”
The seven businesses at the food hub
- Dos Santos Foods –offers “Goan Food”, unique Portuguese/Indian street food
- Liquid Pod – a healthy “super food” alternative also offering a concept called “Liquid Select”, a type of smoothie where customers choose the ingredients
- Plumbun – offering a range of high quality cakes and bakery goods
- Mum’s the Chef – this sees the launch of “That’s a wrap”, a project about creating healthy nutritious alternatives to greasy breakfast rolls and sandwiches, to the local workforce and student population
- Olivier’s Bakery – an existing business that freshly bakes Croissant, Danish, Savouries and seasonal pastries and salted pastries using local ingredients (from farmers market). He will also display a selection of his bread range which will be baked and delivered daily
- Ro Co Coffee – recently started trading on the Platform at Ruskin Square, providing a wide selection of coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
- La Carreta – founder Beatriz Iliana Machado has swapped California for Croydon and will be selling a variety of authentic Mexican and South American food