what’s good Summer 2020
One eye on the prize, guys.
Good news, innovations and the things that caught my eye this month.
to the pub
Always an authentically industry-first business Camden Town Brewery strikes again with their new To The Pub campaign. You couldn't find a more uncomplicated call to action than DRINK BEER, SUPPORT PUBS. To help keep pubs pouring, Camden Town has brewed, To The Pub, a double dry-hopped American Pale Ale which they intend to give free kegs of (260,000 pints in total) to pubs for when they re-open. Launching first in 500ml cans - all proceeds from sales will go towards making more beer to give to pubs for free. The To The Pub beer is available online from their webshop and launching in Ocado and Wholefoods in July.
today’s special
On Wednesday 1st July, a huge online charity auction, Today’s Special, will be streamed live on Zoom with incredible lots gifted by food and drink industry leaders. Think a masterclass with Michel Roux Jnr, a chefs table with Dishoom, or a glass of wine with Jay Rayner.
You can always count on the hospo crew to club together to deliver something extra special. Co-hosted by Great British Menu's Andi Oliver and Oliver Peyton with a 'live' auction by auctioneer Tom Best, and all the LOLs courtesy of comedian Tom Allen. The event will offer the public the chance to bid on money can’t buy experiences from a host of the nation's best chefs, restaurants and hotels.
All the money raised from Today's Special will be split between charities, Action Against Hunger and Hospitality Action. Two vital organisations supporting those at risk of hunger in the UK and around the world, as well as hospitality workers hit hardest by the industry shut down in the UK. Shout out to Huw Gott of Hawksmoor and Libby Andrews of Pho for making this happen. Let’s get some money raised!
VU cycle park
photo by Beth Crockatt Photography
East London gig and club scene stalwart, The Village Underground, has unveiled a brilliant business pivot and temporary project the VU Cycle Park. To help them survive the current, forced closure of their creative, cultural hub, they have converted their unused venue into secure cycle storage for Shoreditch and The City. The VU Cycle Park can hold up to 400 bikes at a time and will be open six days a week, with hourly, daily and weekly rates.
East London cycle OGs, Look Mum No Hands! will also be there running weekly repair service on Tuesdays and you'll also be able to stay refreshed with beers, wine, spirits and coffees to takeaway from the VU bar. Every penny will help save their venue and business.
With non-essential travel on public transport still discouraged, walking and cycling have become favoured modes of travel, this cycle park servicing the Shoreditch and The City areas benefits the community while raising vital funds to help keep the VU business afloat. A quick peruse of #saveourvenues highlights the plight of grassroots and independent venues who are struggling and may not survive the enforced closure.
Hats off to the VU team for this timely and reactive offering.
the breakfast club re-brands
Infamous London, 12 site all-day cafe concept The Breakfast Club has recently undergone a re-brand to unify their collective look. They worked with Thought Matter agency who have taken inspiration from the eateries' iconic menu. Egg yolk, pancake batter, tomato and Marmite take centre stage to convey The Breakfast Club's personality across the colour palette, typography and illustration. This pared-back, grown-up and simple yet design-focused approach is fitting as they celebrate 15 years serving up epic, hangover-curing comfort food.
invisible chips
Hospitality Action's new fundraising campaign, Invisible Chips, is asking the public to get their head around buying a portion of nothing. Invisible Chips are 0% fat and 100% charity. (Love this tag line BTW.) You can purchase a portion of Invisible Chips to help support people working in hospitality whose livelihoods are disappearing due to COVID-19. The campaign should resonate because, well, everyone loves chips. Check out the menu here, where you can give more through the clever upsell of making those chips' dirty', making your portion sharing size or adding invisible condiments. You can purchase your portion of chips here knowing that they're not going to go off or take up any freezer space or you can become a stockist here.
good vibes only
crowning glory
A sign of the times, the ubiquitous Burger King crown has been scaled up as a fun and playful reminder to customers that they need to respect social distancing rules.
ricotta get thru this
Pizza Pilgrims always nail a consistent, authentic and cheeky tone. Their latest on-site messaging is true to form. I don't doubt a four pizza distance will be hard to maintain, it'll be necessary to put some space between customers incessant humming/ singing of Ricotta Get Thru This to the tune of Daniel Beddingfield's catchy 2002 club banger upon clapping eyes on this signage. In fact you’re not even reading this are you - you saw the image and have been singing to yourself ever since.
responsibility & purpose
Okay so technically this one's from Germany and an OOH print advertisement created by Miami Ad School, for Kit Kat. However, with lockdown induced screen time still up and us spending more time than ever glued to social media - this is a clever and purposeful use of their ever-present tagline with a simple CTA to take a break from social.
dazed 100
The Dazed 100 has been in action since 2014, celebrating and rewarding emerging talent from the worlds of fashion, music, art and activism. Dazed 100 alumni include Timothée Chalamet, Stormzy, and Greta Thunberg who have gone on to make history.
This spotlight on the 100 names changing culture in 2020 is an essential read for brands looking to keep ahead of the game. In these uncertain, challenging times partnering with and providing platforms for exciting, new visionaries is a concrete road to travel. This year's list also sought to push beyond personalities, gathering 100 creative and philanthropic projects as manifestos for change.
Chosen with the help of Dazed reader votes, the four ideas receiving funding this year are: London-based presenter, and producer Henrie Kwushue's 'Untold Stories' film series, NYC-based DJ and gardener DJ Freedem's Underground Plant Trade and plant care workshop series, south London photographer Alfie White's photo essay on the people whose lives have been affected by Covid-19 to ref but a few.
