'This changes everything': Shroom Kitchen expands with new mobile catering unit after being awarded grant funding
A vegan business has been awarded grant funding
An independent plant-based pop-up is celebrating the purchase of a new mobile catering unit after being awarded grant funding.
Street food business, Shroom Kitchen, has secured funding from the Portsmouth Match Fund, enabling it to expand its offering across the city.
The funding, which has been approved by Portsmouth City Council, will allow the 18-month-old vegan pop-up to trade independently in a converted horsebox catering unit.
Shroom Kitchen, which is owned by Lucy Bridgewater, applied for the fund earlier this year after previously partnering up with business across Portsmouth for pop-up events.
Lucy explained: “It’s like entering a competition. You assume you won’t ‘win’, but tell yourself you’ve got to be in it to win it, and I’m so glad I did. Running a food business is not easy, especially when you rely on borrowed kitchen space. Having my own catering vehicle changes everything.
“I’ll absolutely continue partnering with local venues in and around Portsmouth because it works, and customers love the variety of dining spaces we pop-up in. But having the freedom to run my own setup, on my own terms, is a huge step forward. I’m incredibly grateful that Portsmouth City Council recognised the hard work I’ve put in and believed in my long-term vision.”
Shroom dishes up a range of plant-based dishes including burgers, loaded chips, mac and cheese, roast dinners and more.
A spokesperson from the economic development and planning team at Portsmouth City Council said: “Shroom Kitchen is a great example of the kind of ambitious, community-focused business the Portsmouth Match Fund is designed to support.
“It’s fantastic to see a local entrepreneur turning a strong idea into a sustainable and growing enterprise. We’re proud to support Lucy’s journey and look forward to seeing Shroom Kitchen continue to thrive across Portsmouth.”
The business will make its debut with its new mobile catering unit at the Southsea Food Festival on July 4 and 5, run by Portsmouth City Council, marking its first official outing with the horsebox.