Canteen: A Triumph of Community, Health, and Climate Action in Frome
What happens when a community comes together to reimagine how we share meals, support local and sustainable food systems, and create a circular economy whilst making fresh and responsibly sourced food available to all in our community? The answer is Canteen, a pay-what-you-can pop-up restaurant, set up by the Frome Food Network with support from Green and Healthy Frome’s ‘Future Shed’. Canteen was piloted over two successful evenings, proving that nourishing food and meaningful connections go hand in hand, all while promoting sustainability and inclusivity.
Community Connections: Building Bridges Over Shared Plates
At its core, Canteen is about bringing people together. Inspired by the likes of The Big Lunch and The Long Table in Stroud, and in the spirit of Britain’s 1940s community canteens — called ‘British Restaurants’, and which offered wholesome and affordable meals during the war — this initiative creates a warm, welcoming space for anyone and everyone to enjoy a hearty meal, regardless of financial circumstances.
The communal dining set up helped solo diners to meet new people, with many reporting to have had uplifting conversations with new faces.
The pay-what-you-can format flourished, with an average payment of £9.85 per meal and an incredibly generous 43 meals being paid forward proving that the invitation to connect over food was truly inclusive. Solidifying Canteen’s policy of ‘everyone is welcome’.
”Amazing! So needed”,
‘Wow, what a fantastic event. I was completely blown away by the quality of the food, the atmosphere an the amount of people”,
“Well done, this gives food and love to the community”,
All photo’s credit to Peter Halpin @theartfultographer
Health on the Menu: Wholesome, Local, Delicious
Canteen’s approach to food is as intentional as its community focus. Sourcing fresh produce from local farms, market gardens and other low-impact food suppliers, using only local talent to whip up the delicious meals. These efforts to keep our resources, skills and money right here in Frome, help us to support our neighbours and let’s our economy thrive locally. And it doesn’t stop there—any food surplus is cycled back into compost via @loopfrome, enriching the soil to grow even more veggies!
Dishing up good honest, seasonal food such as Broadbean Tagine with Herby Quinoa, followed by Lemon & Fennel Polenta Cake, Canteen managing to source 83% of ingredients from the following hyper-local suppliers, all of which support regenerative and sustainable food practices. Nurturing health for the diners but also the land that sustains them.
🌱 Frome Seed Library @fromeseedlibrary
🥬 Vallis Veg @vallisveg
🥕 Vallis Farm @vallis_farm
💚 Root Connections @wearerootconnections
🍞 Rye Bakery @rye_bakery
🌳 42 Acres @42acresretreatAcres.
Climate Action: A Circular Economy in Action
Canteen doesn’t just serve food—it champions a model of sustainability that benefits the planet as much as the community.
- Reducing food miles: Ingredients were sourced from nearby farms and businesses, drastically cutting the carbon footprint of each meal.
- Minimising waste: Any food surplus is returned to the earth, via Loop Frome’s composting program, enriching the soil to provide more veggies.
- Choosing local talent: From bakers, chefs, farmers, suppliers and growers, Canteen strengthens the local economy while showcasing the incredible skill and quality produce we have within our community.
- Pay-what-you-can approach: allowing everybody access to enjoy quality produce.
The result? 264 happy and nourished people, 137.5 kilograms of local ingredients transformed into delicious meals, with the majority of the food waste composted..
Looking Ahead: The Future of Canteen
The success of Canteen’s pilot demonstrates the viability of a pay-what-you-can community restaurant in Frome. With 264 meals served over two evenings it shows a clear appetite for more, the potential for scaling this initiative is exciting.
Beyond its numbers, Canteen has shown what’s possible when a community invests in each other, creating space for much-needed connections, improved access to healthy meals, and an opportunity to support a sustainable food practices while also supporting our local economy.
As Frome Food Network considers how to make Canteen a permanent fixture, one thing is certain— the people of Frome want more!
If you’re inspired by the vision of Canteen, and would like to know more, sign up to the Frome Food Network newsletter. Or consider volunteering, or simply give us your feedback, by emailing hugh@fromefoodnetwork.co.uk.
