Frome Food Network

Fantastic turnout Friday night! ✨ A massive thank you to everyone who braved the February chill to fill Trinity Church Hall with such a warm, neighbourly atmosphere. All 149 of you. That was Canteen's last pop-up as a Climate Action Fund-supported project. Where does it go from here? Not entirely sure yet, but stick with us and find out? Thanks of course also goes to The Canteen Team and our lovely local suppliers: Tom, Bita, and Julia for the hearty magic cooked up in Trinity's kitchen. Lyndsey, Sue, Cherry, Rosalie, and Wren for keeping front of house. Hugh and Mark for dishie duties. Devon for the seasonally-inspired cordials. Lex for the beautiful flowers. Ivy House Dairy, Radford Mill Farm, and Hinton Venison for contributing to our locally-inspired menu. Loop for turning all our food waste into community compost. Now Canteen signs off for a bit – any further news, you'll hear about it right here.

Tomorrow's menu has landed! A proper winter warmer by way of either venison ragu or a creamy, herby butter bean sauce; served over baked gnocchi and with miso cabbage. There may be some roasted squash in there too. Then followed by a @callebautchocolate -laced hot chcocolate with homemade sugar buns or oat biscuits on the side. Our menus always start with what's good and available around us -- in this case, wild venison from Jonny @hintonvenison , organic veg from Lucas at @radfordmillveg in Timsbury, and organic Jersey milk from Geoff and team @ivyhousefarmdairy in Beckington. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options available. Do let us know on the day of any allergens. Remember: Canteen is pay-what-you-can – the cost price of a two-course meal is usually between £10-£15, but you can pay as much or as little as you like. Any spend over the cost price funds the meals of those who might not be able to afford it. See you for dinner tomorrow at Trinity Hall BA11 3DE, 5pm-7:30pm (or until we run out).

You know we said we have some of the area's best chefs cooking at Canteen? We weren't joking. On the pans for Feb 6th: Tom @t.wilford2 (famous, in part, for THOSE sausages from Canteen #4); supper club host and chef @bitafallahapf (fun fact: Bita had her own TV cooking show in 2019); and pastry chef Julia (of great ice cream sandwich reknown @hoolees.goodies ). These three will be cooking up dinner this Friday, 5pm-7:30pm, at Trinity Hall BA11 3DE. Be hungry, bring a friend, or come as you are. Next up: The menu!

It's happening! More specifically: This Friday, 5 - 7:30pm (or until we run out of food*), at Trinity Church Hall. Not been before? Here's what to expect: 1️⃣ Buy a Canteen token at the till, or ask for ‘a token for Joe’ to get a free one. The cost-price of a two-course meal will be clearly marked on the day, but you can pay whatever you'd like 2️⃣ Turn in your token at the hatch for a meal 3️⃣ Join other guests at the table, and feel free to welcome others to sit with you 4️⃣ Eat and enjoy (and don’t forget to come back to the hatch for pud!) Pretty strightforward, no? Canteen is about feeding as many people as we can on wholesome delicious food, no matter how much they're able to afford. And in communality. We're not-for-profit, so any money we make goes towards subsidising meals for those who might not be able to afford it. See you on the 6th – whether you're bringing friends or coming alone. * We're ready to feed 180 of you, so should be plenty to go around.

Canteen: A project dreamt up for the Frome community, by the Frome community. In 2021, a food network was born in Frome. In the years since, its aim became clear: to bring together local people interested in good, sustainable food and use that cooperative enthusiasm to help bring about a more interesting, connected, and vibrant food town. What has resulted is an open and motley collective including growers, farmers, chefs, researchers, academics, artists, and councillors. The group shares opportunities for collaboration; organises and supports socials, seasonal events, and farm tours; and of course hosts the pay-what-you-can community restaurant Canteen. All this couldn’t have happened without the tremendous support of Edventure’s @futureshedfrome . Although the FFN’s Climate Action Funded-residency with Future Shed comes to an end in March, its mission and purpose continues deeper into 2026, and beyond. If you’d like to be part of the network, contact Hugh at hugh@fromefoodnetwork [dot]co[dot]uk, along with any skills or interests you might have up your sleeve.

898! That's how many people Canteen has fed since its first pop-up in October 2024, with wholesome, delicious food courtesy of some of the area's best chefs. But looking back on what Canteen's done so far, is there any evidence of impact to back up the numbers? Canteen may be beginning to affect wider change. In a recent survey we put out, 77% of respondents who have visited a Canteen pop-up said they’d then more actively sought out sources of local food, or are more aware of food waste or food’s role in the community. Although respondents suggested the quality and provenance of the food is important, the majority said ‘eating together’ was the main reason they go. As Canteen approaches its last Climate Action Fund-supported pop-up (6th Feb, Trinity Hall) as a @fromefoodnetwork project in residence with Future Shed, the case for a ‘social eating’ provision in Frome has only got stronger. More stats and background at the ready in Canteen Zine, designed by local chef-artist @cherrytruluck and ready to read online at fromefoodnetwork.co.uk/canteen. If you’ve visited a Canteen pop-up, was it for the food or to eat together? Do tell us in the comments. 👇 Photos by @theartfultographer

Did you know Canteen is part of a national movement for social eating? Over recent years, researchers, historians, restaurateurs, and food system experts have clubbed together to explore how a ‘Canteen Culture’ might take hold in Britain. Especially one that focuses on bringing together local communities, feeding them affordably, and addressing food resilience along the way. Meanwhile, ‘public restaurant’ pilots – in Nottingham and Dundee – are due to open this year, largely inspired by state-subsidised ‘British Restaurants’ and ‘Civic Restaurants’ of the 1940s-1970s (Frome had one set up in 1943 at what is now King Street car park). The UK is one of the last countries in the world to catch on to social eating (see for example People's Restaurants in Turkiye, Milk Bars in Poland, the Netherlands' People's Kitchens and Denmark's Absalom initiatives). But the current groundswell of and public appetite for eating wholesome, affordable food in a shared environment suggests this may well change in the future. Besides, with unhealthy diets currently costing the UK’s NHS an annual £268 billion(!), community-led public health interventions, like Frome’s Canteen, may be just what the doctor ordered. Photos: 1: One of many 'British Resturants' set up to support communities during WWII 2: Nourish Scotland @publicdiners event 3: Frome Canteen pop-up in winter 2024 4: Communal dinner at Absalon, Copenhagen @absaloncph 5: Post-war 'Civic Restaurant' in Wolverhampton

GUESS WHO’S BACK? Mark your calendars, good people of Frome, as Canteen returns on the evening of Friday 6th February at Trinity Church Hall, BA11 3DW. We’ve missed the hum of communal tables and the smell of local, seasonal goodness cooking away in the kitchen, so we’re back at Trinity for a winter special to warm the cockles on a cold night. For those new to the project, Canteen is a pay-what-you-can community restaurant. No booking ahead, no paying for more than you need – just wholesome, seasonal food cooked by some of Frome’s best chefs, in a communal setting and at a price of your choosing. Full details on menus, timings, and other info to come… Yours, Team Canteen 🍴 Photo credit: @theartfultographer

What a turnout! Team Canteen has just about recovered from serving 222 of you within 2 hours outside Victoria Park Cafe on Friday – another stunning example of people coming together around wholesome, affordable food. An average spend of £10.83 per person meant many people's meals were part-subsidised by the rest of the community. This also helped pay for a few free meals too! Thanks for coming (and in many cases waiting!) for hogget shawarma, carlin pea falafel, summer fruit pud, and of course @fromeseedlibrary 's highly-storied community potato salad. Keep an eye on our social channels for announcements on Canteen's next pop-up. Now, time for Canteen #6 credits: Chefs: @eventshorizonofficial , @t.wilford2 , @lilac_treats Other staff: @suepalmer_23 , @lyndseymayhewdehany , @hughlt , Sam Evans, and Wren, supported by @frometowncouncil Suppliers, inc: @radfordmillveg , @septemberhouse_ , @42acresretreat , @vallisfarm , Sheila's allotment, Cherry & Ernest, @communityfridgefrome Design + visuals: @cherrytruluck Tableware: @frome_ecoparty Waste composting: @loopfrome Rousing call-to-eat: @fromesofficialtowncrier FFN residency and background support: @futureshedfrome , @edventurefrome , @greenhealthyfrome Seed (to-table) funding: Citizens Advice Somerset

📜 Friday's menu has landed 📜 Canteen's 'pop-up in the park' (Vicoria Park, that is) is almost here, so it's about time you knew what you'll be eating. On Friday 5pm-7pm (or until we sell out), pick what you'd like from a spread of: Mutton shawarma or carlin pea (sort of like a UK chickpea, sustainably-grown by @hodmedods ) falafel with flatbreads and yoghurt, alongside a variety of salads including that made from @fromeseedlibrary 's seed-to-table potatoes grown especially for this event. Then follow up with a poached summer fruit pud with lavender shortbread – there may even be some ice cream to have with it too. Lots to go around for the vegans, vegetarians, and the gluten-free among us. Entire menu is nut-free, but any allergies please do let us know on the day. No booking needed for Friday – just turn up. We'll be set up by the cafe. See you then!

🌱 Seed-to-table 🍽️ Way back in 2004 (though suspicions are it’s still somewhat accurate), a study concluded that 60% of children in the UK reckon potatoes grow on trees. As part of this coming Canteen, we’re hoping to change some of that. Kerry Meech at @fromeseedlibrary has enlisted the help of 100 people – many of them kids – across Frome to grow potatoes and herbs from seed, which will then make up a sumptuous community potato salad served on the night of the 15th August at Victoria Park. “With the food disconnect ever-widening,” says Kerry, “the aim is to help bridge that gap between seed and plate while introducing discussions on the increasing importance of provenance, sustainable food, and seed sovereignty.” Hear hear. With most the spuds now plucked (from out the ground!), it’s not long now before their last part of the seed-to-plate journey: 15th August, 5pm-7pm, as part of what’ll likely be a picnic-like spread (full menu coming soon!) at our Victoria Park pop-up. The food will be pay-what-you can, literally meaning you’re welcome to pay as much as you like – even if that’s nothing. This unique seed to plate project is supported by Citizen Advice Somerset's Food Resilience grant; a fund which supports charities and not-for-profit organisations/community groups, to improve food security and resilience within Somerset.

📣 Have you heard?! 📣 Canteen – your local pop-up community restaurant 🍽️ – returns in just a few weeks! Things will look a bit different this time, as we'll be heading to Victoria Park for some (hopefully) perfect picnic weather. Menu TBC, but expect long table dining and the usual assemblage of hyper-fresh wholesome food from hyper-local sources. Plus, it'll be even more of a community collaboration than normal: The fantastic @victoriaparkcafe_frome are co-hosting with us, @fromeseedlibrary is bringing the new potatoes (grown by about 100 people across Frome!) for the community potato salad, @communityfridgefrome is on hand for re-directing any local food surplus into the menu, and @frometowncouncil is providing space and helping with logistics. And in case you're new to Canteen, we go on a pay-what-you-can basis, meaning you're free to pay whatever you can afford towards your meal – even if that's nothing. There are no reservations – just turn up. This joint initiative with Canteen is supported by Citizen Advice Somerset's Food Resilience grant and HUBBUB, while the Canteen project is a product of a Frome Food Network residency with Future Shed. 🗓️ Might see you in a few weeks? Your date for the diary: Friday, August 15th, 5-7pm (or until we sell out). 📸 @theartfultogrpaher and @cherrytruluck