'Tinder for licensees' to be launched by Enterprise and BSF

The app, called British Street Food Pub Takeover, will be officially launched at the Enterprise Live road show on 23 February.

Food journalist Richard Johnson, founder of British Street Food, said: “We are stepping out of the negotiation - it's up to the trader to talk to the licensee - there's no cookie cutter model here.

“Each publican will have different quiet days, each trader will have a particular area he or she wants to work in. We're trying to work out how we can be as helpful as possible to both.”

Access​

Licensees will be able to access the app via their smartphones or from a desktop computer.

"There'll be a page where licensees will be able to very simply download their details with some pictures of the pub and some basic questions like: what kind of crowd do you get in? How many people? What nights do you want trading? What type of food you're interested in? What sort of price you think your customer would pay? Like a personal ad. And then on the other end the street-food trader will be doing exactly the same - one will reach out to the other,” said Johnson.

While the app will be exclusively available for Enterprise licensees at the moment, there was no reason why it could not be rolled out across the trade further down the line, he added.

Demographic​

"What street food does is bring a different crowd to the pub. So both reach a new demographic - one teaches the other.

"The street-food trader teaches the landlord how to use and work social media, the landlord teaches the street-food trader how to work their costs, management systems, ordering, EPOS, all sorts of different things. There's a lot to be learnt on both sides. It can be a short-term or long-term engagement, but there aren't the same risks attached to finding a full-time food solution."

The service will be tested prior to its launch with three 'pilot' residencies at London pubs, including the Kings, in Islington, which will host mac and cheese vendors Mac Factory.

Full details of how to sign up for British Street Food's Pub Takeover will be posted online at www.britishstreetfood.co.uk​.