Pop Brixton – a super-cool new mini city created from upcycled shipping containers – opens on Friday 29 May. The space will host some of the community’s most exciting independent start-ups in food, drink, retail, creative industries and the arts.
With Brixton already established as a go-to, foodie destination in London, Pop Brixton is set to build on this success with over 20 food and drink vendors, including the renowned Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen taking up her first permanent residency, Miss P’s BBQ offering juicy beef ribs, Koi Ramen, Baba G Bhangra Burgers Mama’s Jerk and more.
Pop Brixton will also host a diverse selection of independent retail outlets, from vintage clothing sellers Make Do & Mend to Japanese tea house, Kyocha.
Local businesses can also take up office and workspace, and Impact Hub Brixton will provide affordable co-working space for start-ups. Tenants have also committed an hour a week to a time-bank for community giveback, which involves skill-sharing with other tenants and the local community. Other initiatives include a Pop Farm (a garden and greenhouse area planted by the local community), local artist exhibitions, workshops and a 200 capacity event space hosting TEDx Brixton talks, gigs and cinema screenings.
Pop Brixton has turned a piece of wasteland near Brixton Rec into an attractive new urban space with a focus on supporting local enterprise, supporting 80 entrepreneurs and create over 200 jobs. 85% of the carefully selected tenants have connections to the local area, and the site has 10 affordable units at rents of 20%-50% of the standard charge. Commissioned by Lambeth Council, the space has been designed by award-winning Carl Turner Architects and developed by The Collective. The upcycled shipping containers were constructed with the help of 12 apprentices from Lambeth College.
The land for Pop Brixton has been donated to the project by Lambeth Council at no cost until at least October 2017, to help support local enterprise, jobs and training. Phases two and three will open in July 2015.
Pop Brixton, 53 Brixton Station Road SW9 8PQ; popbrixton.org
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