Frome Food Networks’ Pay-What-You-Can community restaurant, Canteen, returns this month following two successful pop-ups last year.
The last two Canteen pop-ups in October and November 2024 were at Trinity Hall and saw 128 meals served at the first event and 136 at the second with an average of 40 free meals supplied over both sessions.
Organisers are hoping to repeat demand at the next event on Tuesday 18th February at Trinity Hall but also test appetites for a new mid-week date.
With community at the heart of the project, organisers say it is reminiscent of the UK’s British Restaurant initiative that came to Frome in 1943 during the Second World War.
“According to local historian David Lassman, the restaurants were originally called ‘Community Feeding Centres’ and were set up nationally by the Ministry of Food in 1940 to be run as non-profits by community organisations and local government,” explained Frome Food Network founder and Canteen coordinator Hugh Thomas.
“The idea was to provide a nutritious square meal to people who had been bombed out of their homes or those who had run out of ration coupons.
“Named ‘The Union Jack,’ Frome’s own British Restaurant catered for 200 people each sitting and was situated in what is today the Cork Street car park. During the war there were more British Restaurants across the country than there are McDonald’s today and food was handed out on receipt of a token –an idea the Canteen restaurant has adopted.”
So far, there are four Canteen events planned for 2025 following the next one on Tuesday 18th February – in April, June and August. Food will be served at each event from 5pm to 7pm or until it runs out. No reservations needed.
To participate, diners can buy a Canteen token at the till (or ask for ‘a token for Jo’ to receive one for free), exchange the token for a meal, then find a space at the table to eat together.
Diners of all ages are welcome and there will be a designated children’s area for kids who want to play after their dinner.
Canteen’s dishes are based around seasonal fruit and vegetables with meat being sourced from local, regenerative and ethical suppliers. On the night there will be a choice of two dishes and a pudding, with expert cooks serving up comforting and delicious favourites, such as pie and mash, curries and stews.
The model has been designed to make it affordable for all, with the cost of a meal dependent on how much the diner would like to pay. “Diners can pay over or under the actual cost of the meal or you can eat for free. Whatever is affordable,” explained Hugh.
“On the day there will be an indication of how much a single meal costs to make and as Canteen is not-for-profit, it only seeks to cover that cost.”
The pop-up is also inspired by projects and concepts such as The Long Table in Stroud and The Big Lunch and is the product of a Frome Food Network 2025 residency with Future Shed, which offers practical support to get green and healthy initiatives and enterprises off the ground.
Hugh said, “It’s great to be back with our third event. We were blown away by the support and feedback from the first two Canteens and were really pleased to see such a wide range of people from across Frome.
“It’s also fascinating how we’re, somewhat by accident, recreating something that appeared in town 80 years ago. British restaurants came about out of emergency, and – with Britain’s unhealthy food system costing the UK £268 billion every year – you could argue we are in a different kind of emergency today.”
Do you remember Frome’s British Restaurant, the Union Jack? Did you dine there or at another British Restaurant? The Canteen team would love to hear your stories; please get in touch with Lyndsey at lyndsey@fromefoodnetwork.co.uk
Further information about Canteen and the Frome Food Network can be found at https://www.fromefoodnetwork.co.uk/canteen and on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information about this press release, contact Lyndsey Mayhew at lyndsey@fromefoodnetwork.co.uk
Pictured: A previous Canteen event
