
Our Story
A team of West Dorset locals are reviving an old catering vehicle, formerly the Real Food Van, by turning it into a community asset and 'incubator' for new and young entrants to the food business. The vehicle was kindly donated by a local farming co-operative (PEPC) and, with support from CLS Dorset and Ros Kayes, the vehicle has been serviced and repaired.
Our Project
To transform our catering vehicle into a space for educational workshops and pop-up restaurants we need your help! This includes support for an interior conversion of the vehicle, purchase of catering equipment, removing the peeling artwork and replacing it with our new identity, covering our first year commerical tax and insurance, and providing basic training to our new members.
Who We are
We are a diverse mix of local chefs from places such as River Cottage HQ, Trill Farm and secret pop-up supper club Bearkat. We are also food educators, food suppliers (Charmouth Dragon), charities (Communities Living Sustainably in Dorset) and community organisations (Stir To Action) based in West Dorset.
Who owns it?
The project will be a Co-operative Community Interest Company, meaning that it is owned and controlled by its members: chefs, young caterers, food educators and other non-profits who use food for social purpose. It also means that the vehicle has an 'asset lock' to protect it from being sold for the personal profit by any member of the co-operative. That locks it in for social purpose, for ever!
What are the funds for?
- Interior conversion (£1500)
- Catering equipment (£2000)
- Exterior Art Wrap (£1000)
- First year's commerical tax and insurance (£1000)
- Basic training (£500)
What you can expect
- Fresh, locally sourced ingredients on every plate
- Sustainable fish and chips
- A waste food cafe
- A variety of flavours and cuisine, including vegetarian and vegan options not often found at takeaways
All of your support will not go unrewarded...
You could find yourself on a forage, part of a cookery club, or having a local food takeaway served at your event by member-chefs from River Cottage HQ and Trill Farm. You can grab a ticket to our launch, become a founding supporter and get a monthly takeaway for a year, or get the vehicle's original artwork by Edd Baldry on a t-shirt or tote bag.

Thanks for the support and see you on the road!