Restaurants have been ‘popping up’ for a while in London and other metropolitan centres but I believe I attended Cornwall’s very first pop-up restaurant at the weekend – a collaboration between Gallery Latitude 50 on the Penwith moors near Cripplesease and Lime Tree catering, the people behind the much-loved Lime Tree restaurant that once occupied Trevelyan House on Chapel Street in Penzance.
In my (female) party there was a flurry of excitement on arrival: our prettily dressed table was surrounded by delicate ceramics adorned with tiny birds and bees, hand-made sheepskin slippers, spools of coloured wool (care of gallery owner and knitwear designer Corinne Carr), abstract paintings, and high-squeal-inducing jewellery. And that was before the food even arrived ;-)
On the menu was rich, wintery venison, crispy gurnard, velvety creme brulee and a platter of Cornish cheeses… I think my favourite bit was the crisped-up pork belly starter, ideal for laying down your own personal insulation system on a bitterly cold January night.
Though pop-ups are generally considered an urban thing, I actually think the set-up suits Cornwall to a tee. Think of all the restaurants here who struggle with the overheads through the winter and how much in these parts we all love a) a bring your own, b) arty/unusual surroundings and c) word of mouth happenings.
A restaurant producing this calibre of food would struggle to survive permanently in such a remote location but as a pop-up I can see it thriving. There are two more Lime Tree pop-ups planned at wonderful Gallery Latitude 50 – see the website for details – and Miki of Lime Tree hinted at future happenings in yet-to-be-revealed exciting locations…
Which got me thinking about a pop-up location wishlist… mm, maybe among the paintings at the Tate St Ives, at the Eden project (pref. tropical biome!)… or perhaps a crumblingly elegant old dining room at Godolphin House?
www.gallerylatitude50.co.uk. £25 for three courses – bring your own wine//www.the-lime-tree.co.uk
ismay atkins
pasties & cream cornwall blog 
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January 3, 2012 at 5:27 pm
new favourite place « pasties & cream cornwall blog
[…] and Barefoot is opening a surf school in coming months AND does pop-up restaurants in conjunction with Lime Tree. AND there are sea views, when the rain’s not slashing against the window at […]
March 25, 2011 at 10:20 am
Gilly
our lovely friends Lucy and Roger have been doing pop up restaurants and music for a while – latest was spanish flamenco guitar and workshop
at their clifftop cafe in Gunwalloe – check out http://www.barefootkitchen.com
February 14, 2011 at 9:39 am
Dan
I’ve never heard of a bring your own wine restaurant before. Well done to this place for not trying to squeeze every penny out of people.
January 31, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Jo Anne
I’ve never heard of pop up restaurants – I know the area and have friends who live down that way, and just can’t place where it is!
The meal choice sounds wonderful and very reasonable for 3 courses. Sounds like you had a great time.