The Surrey StrEatery, Croydon’s hub for foodies, will celebrate its six months of trading by holding a fun day.
Budding street food traders were given the chance to make their dreams a reality by basing themselves at the StrEatery, which opened at a vacant shop in Surrey Street in November last year.
And to celebrate the end of the six month project, a fun day will take place on Thursday, 30 April from noon to 11pm, ahead of closing on 2 May.
This will feature live music, food demos from the traders, craft activities with the day brought to a close with stand-up comedy.
The Surrey StrEatery came about thanks to funding from the Mayor of London’s Regeneration Fund and Croydon Council.
It has been serving up a variety of international cuisines and held cookery demos, with dishes prepared using ingredients sourced from the nearby Surrey Street Market.
The traders were supported with grants of up to £3,000 from the Mayor’s Regeneration Fund towards the cost of their stall. They were also given six months’ support to help build their businesses, including a tailored package of free space to trade, with no rent, rates or utility bills.
As a result of this support, the StrEatery was a base for six food businesses which generated 16 jobs.
The council along with business consultancy Retail Revival has provided support to the traders to help them following the closure of the StrEatery.
Each trader will be taking with them their cooking units with work surfaces so they can continue in a new location.
The council and Retail Revival have been identifying new opportunities for the StrEatery businesses and brokering introductions at Wandle Park pavilion café, Ruskin Square Platform, empty units at Exchange Square and Broad Green community space.
The StrEatery premises will be handed back to the landlord for new commercial tenants.
The council’s executive director for place, Jo Negrini, said: “This was a fantastic initiative which took over an empty shop space and transformed it into a world street food destination.
“Over the last six months, the Surrey StrEatery has hosted a range of fun events and served up a variety of tasty treats.
“We’ve been really pleased with how it has provided the platform for six budding food entrepreneurs to launch their businesses, which we at the council are passionate about supporting.
“We’d like to thank them for making the Surrey StrEatery a great success.”
One of the traders, Sejal Patel, owner of Liquid Pod, said: “I would like to say that the Streatery provided the perfect platform to launch my business.
“They did well in converting what was a derelict building into an interactive social space that entertained and provided many people with a place where they could just simply meet and eat.”
Visit the Surrey StrEatery website at https://surreystreatery.wordpress.com/
Notes to editors
The Surrey StrEatery has been home to:-
1. Roco Coffee – serving coffee/tea/hot chocolate with small snacks such as slices of artisan cake, chocolate brownies and biscuits.
2. Sannaz (Goan Food) – Portuguese Indian such as rice/fish/chorizo curries with a variety of accompaniments
3. Cravings – Mexican/Latin American such as a variety of burritos and cassava cheese buns
4. Liquid Pod – healthy fruit/vegetable smoothies, soups, pancakes and granola bars
5. Mum’s the Chef – assorted wraps, curry goat with rice, and English cuisines
6. Ekabo – West African jollof/fried rice, chicken, fried plantain, beef/chicken/fish with stew
