Weekend pop-up comic café

Comic fans, families, event visitors and local people who come along for a drink and a read.

Drink and snack sales on the day, plus comic and merchandise sales. Some pop-ups also charge venue partners or organisers a fee, or sell tickets for themed sessions.

• Basic food and drink preparation
• Setting up and packing down a space
• Customer service
• Promoting events on social media

• Register your food business with your local council before trading (check how far in advance)
• Food hygiene and allergen rules apply to pop-ups too, including labelling pre-packed food
• Public liability insurance, and check what the venue or market organiser requires
• Outdoor pitches may need a street trading licence or organiser permission, so check with the council
• Hot drinks and electrical kit need safe setup, so check any venue rules on equipment and testing
• Takings can vary a lot between events, so track costs per day before you commit to more

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on your equipment, drinks and snacks, comics library and venue arrangements. It is a cheaper way to test the idea before committing to a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £600 to £3,000, depending on how many events you run and the footfall at each. Takings can vary a lot between events, so track your costs per day.

Check that you register your food business with your local council before trading, and follow food hygiene and allergen rules, including labelling pre-packed food. Also check public liability insurance, venue or organiser requirements, and any street trading licence for outdoor pitches.