Just two weeks until new food, drink and entertainment pop-up’s second event – hoping to top ‘phenomenal’ first

There is just over two weeks to go until a new food, drink and entertainment pop-up’s second event – which is hoped to top the “phenomenal” first one back in February.

The Big Local, which is the brainchild of partners Jimmy Emmett and Clare Parmenter, was founded at the end of last year and the first pop-up took place on February 3 and 4.

The next five dates were soon booked in until September after the success of the first, and the next is planned for April 1 and 2.

Taking place at the Duston Mill Wedding and Events Venue in Upton, there will be fresh food, open fires, draught beer and local music once again – and attendees can enter for just £1 a ticket.

Jimmy and Clare also run a mobile bar business, Black Ducks Bar, and while they were serving at a birthday party at the Duston Mill last year, they heard of how the venue was looking for another revenue stream.

It was then that the pair decided to host pop-up events there, and the first saw around 600 people visit across the two evenings.

Jimmy said: “It was phenomenal and there was such a varied crowd with people of all ages.

“Visitors poured in as soon as the gates opened and many stayed until the end of the evening – after making the most of the dance floor.”

All of the vendors and live entertainers were “well-received”, which included Nonna Lucia’s Pizza, burgers from the Yellow Bus Catering Co., and drinks from Jimmy and Clare’s mobile bar.

On Saturday April 1, the event will run from 1pm until 11pm and Nonna Lucia’s Pizza, Gyro Guys, Yellow Bus Catering Co., and Oh My Cakery will be there to serve delicious food.

The following day, April 2, the vendors will remain the same besides Gyro Guys being replaced with South African cuisine from Chakalaka Street Food.

Across both days, Jimmy and Clare’s Black Ducks Bar will be in attendance to keep drinks flowing.

There will be both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as free on site parking and dogs are welcome to come along with owners.

The pop-up was set up to “give people the chance to move away from sitting in their local pub and try something different”, which The Big Local achieved in February and hopes to continue at the events planned for the rest of 2023.

As Jimmy and Clare pride themselves on promoting local success through their chosen food vendors, this theme continues with the entertainment.

Acoustic duo Flo & B, soloist Joe Corkram, and five-member band Six Feet Apart will all be performing across the weekend.

With some visitors travelling as far as 50 miles specifically to try Nonna Lucia’s Pizza at the last event, the organising duo hope the pop-up will continue to become more established and successful.

Tickets remain at just £1 per person and these can be purchased online ahead of the event or on the door.

For more information and to secure your tickets now, click here.