If you like independent pubs, love locally produced food and appreciate a sense of community, then check out The Patch on Kickstarter
Arnold Reicher plans to transform a failing south London pub into a fully self-sustaining community gastro-pub, complete with an on-site urban farm providing freshly grown food.
The Patch plan to grow 50% of their food on-site, with the rest bought from local suppliers no further than 25 miles away. Reicher also plans to enlist the help of local growers and horticulturalists, describing The Patch as a ‘community’ pub.
The team plan to use vertical growing technology that they claim uses 90% less water and space in an effort to be efficient and sustainable.
“The Patch uses the latest urban farming technologies to provide a pub experience that is unique to London,” Reicher told Tech City News. “The Patch is all about community, all produce is grown on-site or sourced locally,” he added.
Watch their campaign video:
Reicher has already aquired the property and plans to convert the on-site barn into a ‘food incubator’ including a bakery and smokehouse, so you can expect some variety from the menu.
Locally Produced Food
The Patch plan to focus on traditional British vegetables and vary their menu depending on the season, and they also promise to open their urban farm to local primary schools as an educational tool for children. The focus is very much on community, but The Patch think that their business model is scalable and hope to expand to other London locations if their Kickstarter campaign is successful.
Reicher has brought in David Elphick to manage the kitchen and Charlie Grisel to run the pub, bringing years of experience in restaurant and bar management between them. All they need now is the support of the local community and £17,500 cash to make their dream of a sustainable, community based gastro-pub into a reality.