Pop-up cosplay café at events and venues

Event visitors, fans of anime and gaming, families at local markets, and venues or organisers who book you as an attraction.

Sales of drinks and snacks on the day, plus fees from organisers or venues who book you, and any ticketed themed sessions.

• Basic food prep and serving
• Costume making or sourcing
• Organising kit and transport
• Promoting on social media
• Friendly, confident customer service

• Food business registration with your local council is needed before you start trading (usually at least 28 days beforehand, so check with your council). Also check whether each event or venue needs extra permission or street trading consent
• This idea assumes you do not sell alcohol. If you want to, you would need to check the alcohol licensing rules with your council, such as a Temporary Event Notice or a premises licence
• Public liability insurance, which most events ask to see, and often a copy of your food hygiene rating or certificate
• Allergen information for everything you serve, and safe storage and transport of food and hot drinks
• Using named characters or branded costumes in your signage or menu could breach copyright or trade marks, so consider an original theme
• Playing music may need a licence, so check with PPL PRS or the venue
• Event pitch fees and quiet days can eat into profit, so check the costs before you book
• Agree rules on photos and touching, and make sure staff are comfortable and safe in costume

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on your equipment, costumes, stock and how many events you plan to book. Event pitch fees and quiet days can eat into profit, so check costs before you book.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many events you attend, pitch fees, footfall and your menu prices. Revenue is not profit, so allow for stock, travel and fees.

Things to check: food business registration with your council (usually at least 28 days beforehand), whether each event needs extra permission or street trading consent, public liability insurance, allergen information, and a music licence if you play music.