Pop-up art cafe in shared spaces

Visitors to the venue, local residents and event-goers buying drinks and snacks, plus artists who pay a small fee or commission to show work.

Drink and snack sales on each trading day, with optional ticketed workshops and a commission on artwork sold.

• Making good coffee and simple food
• Customer service
• Organising events and promotion
• Working with artists

• Register your food business with your local council before trading (check timing and rules locally)
• Public liability insurance, and check what the venue's own insurance covers
• Street or market trading may need a council licence or permission
• Hot drinks equipment may need electrical safety checks (PAT testing) and a safe set-up
• Allergen information must be provided for all food you serve
• Takings can be uneven and depend on footfall and weather

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on your coffee and food equipment, venue hire and how much art display kit you need.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on how many days you run, the venue's footfall and the weather. This is revenue before venue hire and ingredients, and takings can be uneven.

Check when to register your food business with your council, and whether street or market trading needs a licence. Also check public liability and the venue's insurance, electrical safety checks for hot drinks equipment, and allergen information for all food you serve.