Vegetarian pop-up and supper club

Local food lovers, vegetarians and vegans, and groups booking a special evening. Guests usually pay in advance by ticket.

Ticket sales per guest for a set menu, with extra from drinks (if licensed), private hire and corporate or party bookings.

• Cooking a set menu for groups
• Planning and costing events
• Promoting on social media and local groups
• Customer service

• Food business registration with your local council, even for occasional events, check what applies to you
• If you cook at home for paying guests, check with your council, landlord and mortgage lender first
• Alcohol needs a licence or the venue's licence to cover it, check the venue's arrangements, such as a Temporary Event Notice
• Allergen information and safe food handling, especially when working in someone else's kitchen
• Public liability insurance, and check whether the venue's cover includes you
• Take care with vegetarian claims, for example cheese made with animal rennet or stocks containing fish
• Income can be uneven, and ticket no-shows can hurt a small event

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on equipment, venue or kitchen hire, ingredients, insurance and promotion. These are estimates, so cost your own plan based on the number of guests and events.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on ticket prices, guest numbers and how many events you run. These are estimates, not guarantees, and revenue is not the same as profit.

Check food business registration with your council, even for occasional events. If cooking at home for paying guests, check with your council, landlord and mortgage lender. Also check alcohol licensing, such as a Temporary Event Notice, allergen information, and whether the venue's insurance covers you.