Pop up restaurants are set to be a hot foodie trend this year. They ‘pop up' out of nowhere; and usually disappear again just as fast. They're run by all sorts of people, from famous chefs to regular Joes who know their way around the kitchen. You'll usually find them at festivals, inside empty buildings, and always in the trendiest parts of town.
If you fancy dining out with a difference this summer, these six pop-up restaurants are well-worth investigating.
1. The Picture House Manchester and Leeds, June
If you're wondering how to save money on a nice meal out, look no further than The Picture House. Instead of paying for your dinner with cold hard cash, you pay by uploading photos of your food to social sharing site Instagram. The whole shebang is a cunning marketing campaign by Captain Birdseye, so the photos must be accompanied by the hashtag #BirdsEyeInspirations if you want to dine for free.
2. The Pommery Champagne Cafe Bar Edinburgh, August
There's lots going on in Edinburgh during the world-famous festival, but a local favourite is this annual pop up. It can be pricey, but there are some great deals for early birds. For example, the ‘4 Beers and a Burger' night offers four craft beers and a Pommery burger for just £25 per person. It's all about budgeting: if you fancy one of the more expensive options, you can use our free money management software to plan ahead.
3. Big Apple Hot Dogs London
Big Apple Hot Dogs use locally baked bread, gourmet toppings, and big meaty organic sausages. Their hot dog cart is always out and about in the big smoke, but they tend to move around a lot: the best thing to do is keep an eye on their website to find out where they're popping up today. Dog prices range from £3-£6, and toppings are free.
4. Dram and Smoke London, weekends from May to July
Edinburgh lads Nick Fulton and Paul Ross are bringing Scottish cuisine south of the border: to a steelyard in Vauxhall, to be more precise. Tickets are £40, but you get a lot of bang for your buck: a cocktail on arrival, an Innis & Gunn beer, and a whopping six course tasting menu packed with goodies like haggis bon bons and deep fried Mars Bars.
5. Jimmy's Underground Pop Up Restaurant London, from May until the end of July
London's Pop Up Master Jimmy Garcia is taking over the basement of the DVine Cellars wine shop in Clapham for the second year. The pop up restaurant offers two menus, both at £30: on Thursdays it's ‘Burgers and Bordeaux', while Friday and Saturday nights offer the ‘Signature Ethically Sourced 5 Course Menu'. Last year the event sold out fast, with a four week waiting list for a table, so book quickly to avoid disappointment.
6. #UPINYOURGRILL Manchester, weekends this summer
B.Eat Street (the folks behind #FRIDAYFOODFIGHT and #BREWBASH) have been teasing their summer pop up on Twitter and Facebook. This summer they'll be throwing 10 weekend block parties featuring street food heroes and plenty of top food venues. More of a pop up food festival than a pop up restaurant, but definitely one to add to the diary.
If you've discovered any foodie gems, let us know in the comments below!
Posted by Money Dashboard