Pop-up to Permanent - The Butchery in Forest Hill

Photo by Ruth Siwinska/Nathan Mills

Great news - The Butchery (it is a butchery, not some clever name for another type of shop), which popped up in Forest Hill before Christmas is returning as a permanent shop.  This is excellent, and shows the potential for pop-up shops as a way of testing the market.

"South East London SEE3 Portas Pilot initiative The Shop Revolution announces its first permanent shop through Christmas Pop Up The Butchery Ltd – due to run up until Christmas Eve – officially taking up residency on the high street from mid-February. The Butchery Ltd is a Butcher’s shop in Forest Hill run by local residents and business owners Nathan Mills and Ruth Siwinska. 
Louise Brooks, Project Manager tasked with delivery of the Shop Revolution says: “We are phenomenally pleased at how well received our first set of Pop Up shops have been, and the fact that some are staying on either temporarily or permanently demonstrates their success with the local market. Our model allows businesses to trial their proposition on the high street before committing to a long term tenancy. Simultaneously we are able to bring a more diverse offering to the high street which we think will meet the needs of the local community.”
The business has been receiving tremendous support locally: on launch day gathering crowds meant having to open up the doors early resulting in 392 paying customers by the end of the day and over 2000 people through their doors over the first weekend.
In the days up to the main event on 25th December The Butchery Ltd were kept extremely busy serving around 4000 customers and with double their estimated figures for orders: Christmas saw just over 200 orders placed for; 50 Turkeys, 25 Geese, 20 Cockerels, 15 Ducks, and many others for Hams, Gammons, Ribs of Beef, Chipolatas and Pigs-in-Blankets.
Sausages from The Butchery Ltd were winners with their special all-meat additive-free ones generally selling out. Surprise hits included; Rabbits, lamb loin chops, pork pies and the now-almost-famous sausage rolls and ‘ovenbusters’ – the secret expanding short ribs.
Ruth Siwinska and Nathan Mills from The Butchery Ltd said about the Pop Up launch experience: “It was last minute stressful but very gratifying to be so well received and embraced by the local community overall. It met our hopes and exceeded our expectations.”
The most common quote from customers was: "Thank you for opening, are you staying?""

When - Permanent!

Where - 49, London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3TY

Map

Link 1 - The Butchery

Link 2 - The Butchery on Twitter

Link 3 - SEE3