Bold Londoner organises Capital’s first brunch-up in a brewery
Ian Carpenter doesn’t do things by halves.
The 32-year-old has invested everything he has into setting up London’s first ever Brunch Fest.
It’s his first foray into events and he’s managed to sign up some of the Capital’s most exciting brunch restaurants, from The Barge House and Urban Pantry to Dayrooms Café and Pophams bakery.
The event takes place in The Old Truman Brewery over the first weekend of September. Members of the Local Buyers Club are offered 20% off admission. (Click here for info or to join)
As well as restaurants serving a special festival menu of brunch dishes, there’ll be a marketplace with dozens of food and drink stalls, fabulous speciality coffee by Origin Coffee and some of London’s best Bloody Mary’s served by Hackney-based The Pickle House. Up on the main stage will be workshops and talks by leading names in the brunch industry.
Ian said: “ London is one of the best cities in the world for brunch. It's about time we had a dedicated festival to celebrate everything that’s great about Brunch!
“I’ve put everything on the line for this – all my savings, it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done."
Initially Ian was preparing for the festival and subbing his income with bar and event work and staying at friend’s houses to save money. But finding an angel investor with a strong background in events was a big turning point.
He added: “The dream is to have one big event per year here in London and then expand into over cities over time. But first we need to make sure the first years event is a huge success, then go from there."
Ian, whose career up until now has been within disability sport, recently moved back from Australia. He added: “I’d had the idea of setting up a brunch festival for a couple of years – so when I came back from Oz in November without a job it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go for it. I put a business plan together, secured the Old Truman Brewey as venue and set out to talk to as many awesome brunch places as possible.
“It’s an amazing space – we’ve got four massive rooms, very industrial and really cool with concrete floors and exposed brick walls. It’s a brilliant blank canvas to create a cool experience.”
Brunch Fest takes place on Saturday September 1 and Sunday September 2. Morning sessions run from 10am am till 1.30pm and afternoon sessions from 2pm till 5.30pm.
For TICKETS visit www.londonbrunchfest.com (earlybird tickets available now) and, if you’re a member of the Local Buyers Club, email us for your special discount code to save 20%.
Admission costs between £15 and £28. Both include entry to the main stage and a goodie bag, the VIB ticket (Very Important Bruncher) includes a complimentary Bloody Mary, the chance to queue-jump for talks and full day, rather than half day, admission. Local Buyers Club members can click here to request their 20% off code.
22p from every ticket sold will be donated to the charity Magic Breakfast to help provide a child in need with healthy breakfasts at school.
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