A new street food “concept” will launch at Avonside on Thursday and Friday evenings next week.
Organisers say, “Bringing a diverse range of global street food to Avonside, the SCOFF Pop-Up offering will change each night on a rotational basis.
“It will host some of the South West’s most exciting street food traders serving up tantalising food such as New York Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, Alpine raclette and tartiflette, Neapolitan style wood-fired pizza and Spanish-inspired street food such as sugar-cured pork belly and buttermilk fried chicken.
“Starting April 8th, SCOFF Pop-up will run for four weeks, serving up freshly prepared food in a Covid-safe, outdoor environment. Traders will be ready to serve from 5pm until 8pm, or sell-out, with special deals to be announced on Avonside’s social media channels.”
SCOFF Pop-up is a new venture set up by local events director Sophie Bowden, who runs Finzels Reach’s much-loved street food market in Bristol.
The idea was originally born during lockdown when street food markets were closed and out of a desire to bring the delights of street food to local communities during the pandemic.
The concept has already proved to be a great success in Portishead as well as Redland and Clifton in Bristol.
The first trader to visit Avonside will be West Country favourite Gurt Wings, who will dish up “gurt tasty” buttermilk-soaked, locally-sourced, free-range chicken wings, with a selection of home-made sauces and sides on Thursday April 8th.
This will be followed by King Fin, known for their seasonal and sustainable fish wraps, calamari and double-cooked rosemary fries, on Friday April 9th.
The street food traders joining the line-up for SCOFF at Avonside over future weeks will be announced weekly on the SCOFF and Avonside social media channels.
SCOFF Pop-up will be offering a safe, takeaway service with Covid measures in place including hand sanitiser on the stalls, contactless payment and social distancing in place.
The tie-up with SCOFF Pop-up forms part of a vision for Avonside, by owners Create Real Estate, to make the most the town centre location and riverside setting to create a vibrant quarter for both leisure and business.
Originally built as the home of Unigate Dairies, Avonside is moments away from the High Street. Visitors to SCOFF at Avonside will be able to park for free on site.
Sophie Bowden, the creator of SCOFF Pop-up, said, “The huge wave of support we’ve seen from the public towards independent food and drink businesses over the last year has been phenomenal, and I’m very excited to be expanding SCOFF Pop-up to Avonside after its success elsewhere.
“I jumped at the chance to team up with Avonside to bring our street food concept to Melksham; it’s a great location in the heart of the town and right by the river too – we can’t wait to get started!”
Ricky Humphreys, director at Create Real Estate, which owns Avonside, said, “We are thrilled to welcome SCOFF Pop-up to Avonside and Melksham; Sophie has created a fantastic concept that perfectly complements our vision for Avonside and we’re excited to work with her.
“It’s also great to be supporting independent business in this new venture and we encourage people to come and try the incredible street food that will be on offer at Avonside each Thursday and Friday evening in an outdoor, Covid-safe environment.
“We very much hope that this will be the start of many exciting things that Avonside will be able to offer to the people of Melksham and surrounding communities.”
Separate to the venture with SCOFF Pop-up, Avonside is home to an artisan market on the last Sunday of each month, selling hand crafted goods and local produce, a collaboration between Avonside and The Anonymous Travelling Market.
Further details on its relaunch plans following national lockdown to come soon.
Follow Avonside via the handle @AvonsideWilts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For more information about Avonside, go to: www.avonsidewilts.co.uk/
Follow SCOFF via the handle @Scoffpopup on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For more information about SCOFF, go to: https://sophiebevents.co.uk/scoff-pop-up.html
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