Created by local residents from the Isle of Purbeck, Pop-Up On The Hill champions local enterprise by providing a location for small businesses to showcase their food and drink throughout the summer.
Launching on 3rd July, Pop-Up On The Hill will open its gates every day during July and August from 10am – 8pm for locals and visitors to The Isle Of Purbeck in search of a tasty treat or a refreshing beverage.
Started by local residents, Pop-Up On The Hill will enable local creators of food and drink to take advantage of the peak tourist season by providing a well-known, flexible and low-cost location where they can sell their delicious artisan goods.
Located in the field adjacent to The Isle Of Purbeck Viewpoint AONB car park at the top of Grange Hill, visitors will be able to drive, cycle or walk to the site along the Purbeck Hills, which boast panoramic views of the Jurassic Coast from Portland to Brownsea Island and beyond.
The concept for a pop-up was formed last summer when tourists flocked to the South Coast. Even though the Isle of Purbeck had never been busier, local artisans had difficulty selling their produce due to the mass cancellation of fairs, fetes, festivals and weddings depriving them of a platform from which to trade.
As a result, tourists had little option but to shop in supermarkets, and then attempt to find a picnic spot. Only a small fraction of the money spent in supermarkets stays in the local economy and the ingredients used to make their food and drink rarely comes from the surrounding area. Additionally, much of the supermarket food and drink is packaged in single-use plastic which often ends up scattered across the coastline and countryside.
Pop-Up On The Hill will provide visitors and locals with a location where they can experience delicious food and drink from a variety of traders while being happy in the knowledge they are supporting the local community. There will be no single-use plastic at the Pop-Up On The Hill site and traders will serve with packaging, cutlery and crockery that is biodegradable, reusable or recyclable.
Henry Bond, founder of Pop-Up On The Hill said: “It’s been a tricky time for local businesses with the uncertainty surrounding whether summer events such as festivals and weddings will go ahead.
“We are proud to be able to say that lots of local businesses will be featuring. These include English Vintage Summer, serving Purbeck Ice Cream and homemade sweet treats, The Cherry Bar and Tipsy Tow Bar, serving craft beverages, and Fanny Annie’s, with their selection of grilled cheese toasties to name just a few. We are thrilled to be able to use our platform to help showcase the incredible amount of talent on our doorstep. These businesses are intrinsic to the local culture and economy, so it was exciting to figure out a way to support them.
“We are expecting a lot of visitors to the Isle of Purbeck this summer, so anything we can do to help these talented artisans to access more customers is worth doing.”
The revenue generated from Pop-Up On The Hill will be used to create a sustainable site with upcycled furniture, locally sourced decorations and solar powered toilets for patrons. The aim is to create a place that is vibrant and welcoming while being of benefit to the community.
For more information, please visit www.popuponthehill.com
