The Kitchen Range’s pop up success

The latest artisan bakery pop up outside The Kitchen Range Cookshop in West Wickham attracted hordes of local food lovers. The bread and pastry pop up, which was held last weekend (November 6) was the cookshop’s second bakery event in the last fortnight. Another is planned over the next few weeks, along with another jam and preserves pop up.

The pop ups (launched earlier this year) are part of The Kitchen Range’s Cookery School pre-launch activities, which won the independent cookshop The Excellence in Retailer Initiative Award at last month’s Excellence in Housewares Awards. Other pop ups outside the shop have included locally grown flowers.

Above: Produce at Saturday’s bakery pop up.
Above: Produce at Saturday’s bakery pop up.

Besides bringing customers to the shop door, the pop ups are introducing tutors who will share their expertise at the forthcoming Cookery School, due to open above the cookshop in 2022. The school intends to use only local tutors, collaborating with fellow independent businesses, including artisan bakers and preserve makers.

“The pop ups are a really encouraging sign for what is to come with our school,” notes Lucy Richards, partner at The Kitchen Range.  Attracting new followers on social media, and promoted via West Wickham’s local newsletters, Lucy admits that the pop ups “are creating lots of excitement on the High Street and cementing our reputation for always doing something new and innovative.”

Above: Pop up flower stall from earlier this year.
Above: Pop up flower stall from earlier this year.

Meanwhile, The Kitchen Range has been enhancing the shop with fresh flowers from its new rooftop garden – creating more talking points for its forthcoming Cookery School. The garden was created by the hardworking team during lockdowns, transforming the flat roof outside the new Cookery School room (previously a “dingy stockroom” above the shop). As well as providing a place to relax before classes and for students to eat outside, the garden will be used for foraging workshops. Its fresh herbs and vegetables will be used for recipes in the Cookery School’s classes, demonstrations, and supper clubs. The Kitchen Range has also extended its herb beds to outside its shopfront, which was revamped earlier this year.

Above: A view of The Kitchen Range’s rooftop garden taken in the summer. The garden leads to the new Cookery School room, situated above the cookshop.
Above: A view of The Kitchen Range’s rooftop garden taken in the summer. The garden leads to the new Cookery School room, situated above the cookshop.

Not surprisingly, the transformation of The Kitchen Range’s upstairs space has been a popular theme for its social media stories. Moreover, its homegrown crops (including spinach, rocket, tomatoes, mange tout, sugar snap and sweet peas) have provided stunning additions to the retailer’s Instagram feed.

 

Top: The popular bakery pop-up outside The Kitchen Range on Saturday (November 6).

MORE NEWS
Copy of Progressive Preschool featured image (14)
 
BIRA has condemned yesterday’s (30 October, 2024) budget as the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory. ...
Copy of Progressive Preschool featured image (2)
 
Spring Fair needs your help to bring together a Hall of Fame compilation of memories, pictures and great stories from the show’s 75-year history....
Copy of Progressive Preschool featured image (13)
 
Saladmaster UK, a division of Regal Ware, has announced its membership of the Federation of the European Cookware, Cutlery, and Housewares Industries (FEC). ...
Copy of Progressive Preschool featured image (12)
 
The upcoming Digital Academy event is a unique opportunity for retailers who want to focus on sustainability when ordering their product range....
Copy of Progressive Preschool featured image (11)
 
New research reveals that under half (43%) of families sit down and eat together and a third of people eat their daily meals on the sofa. ...
Copy of Progressive Preschool featured image (10)
 
The award was a result of Lakeland’s Future Ready initiative over the last three years, showcasing transformation and innovative thinking within the business....
Get the latest news sent to your inbox
Subscribe to our daily newsletter

The list doesn't exist! Make sure you have imported the list on the 'Manage List Forms' page.