The Bell and Brisket Trailer
By: Bel Shapiro LondonThe Bell & Brisket? Who the hell is that?
About 18months ago I left my job, packed my bags and set out on my own. I set up Bell & Brisket, a salt beef bar, with plans to trade it from street food markets and events. You may have noticed a surge in popularity for this product recently due to big boys like Mishkins and Pitt Cue championing the wonders of salt beef and pulled brisket. This only helps my business and Salt Beef is soooo trendy right now.
I've given it a bit of a twist, reinventing the traditional image of salt beef, and adding my own funky quirks, serving it with Kimchi, or pickled cabbage with melted cheese over the top, on bagels, wraps and rye bread. Once eaten, never forgotton.
Bell & Brisket has been trading from various pop ups and food markets, from Camden Town Brewery to Soho, to Street Feast Daltson to Brick Lane. You name it I've popped up there.
I've spent the last 18 months getting the product right and now is the time to step it up a gear.
What do I need to do?
How do I make this business significant within the now rampant street food revolution? In this world its not just about how good your food is, trust me, my food is good, but its how fabulous you look as well. Here's where I had the light bulb moment. I used to ride horses and until recently my parents had an old horse trailer rotting in their back yard.
Why don’t I make this trailer in a mobile Bell & Brisket and make it look like a pub?
To convert one of these:
Into this:
Because its going to cost about £17k and I don’t have any capital? Good point.
This is a mobile pub. Well its not just a pub, but there is a beer tap. Its a mobile Salt Beef bar, with an additional drinking facility, where the license allows. With this beauty I'll be able to operate at a much higher capacity, aiming for festivals & large events. I mean, imagine this at Glasto or at your birthday party.
You will be able to prop up the bar, munching on a beefy sarnie, crunching on a pickle or two, and supping a pint of Ale. If the licensing cops forbid it then you’ll have to make do with home brewed ginger beer. But beer is beer, and I intend to make beer a resounding theme even if I can’t serve it in pints, it’ll be incorporated into the food, beer braised beef, ale chutney’s etc. (I’m not even that keen on beer but I hear its very popular these days)
Why do I need you?
I've had a quote to convert a trailer like this, and I plan to use a very fabulous company call AJC. They have experience in converting the old Citreon vans you see around street food events, so its the same process. But...its going to cost over £10k for them to bring it up to catering standard, lining the inside, installing gas, water electrics etc (see photo of quote). But then I need to make it look pretty, the wooden cladding, the signage, the beer pumps etc.
Now, I have about £8k to contribute, but clearly thats not quite enough. I'm £9k short.
Why should you pledge?
Because you are wonderful? Generous? Like to help a small business get to the next step? Of course you know all of this already, thats why you're on this site.
The way to anyone's heart is through their stomach so I can reward you with food, with love, with a lifetime of appreciation. But also with a credit, like they do in the movies, your name on a plaque on the side of the trailer..."Joe Bloggs donated £25 to help build this trailer"
Plus constant plugs and credits on the B&B website /Twitter /FB etc.
Then there's the Horny Bell T'shirts (which you can see in the pictures below).
Then there's the catering for your event...for free. Oh yes now its getting more interesting.
If you love salt beef, streetfood, crazy ideas and a pub on wheels. Then your contribution to make this project happen would be simply amazing.
Here's what people say about B&B.
“the best salt beef bagel in London” - The Londoner
“This menu is thought through lovingly and it shows in both presentation and taste" - Eat Me Magazine
“The Bell & Brisket’s salt beef sandwiches are decidedly lustworthy” – All In London – Best Temporary Restaurants
"Amazing! Yes, in principle - and based on the delicious food I have had from Bell & Brisket in the past - I am certain that there would be work that we could send their way, both in our market at King's Cross and for private jobs that we coordinate." Petra Barran, Eat St.
Twitter @brisketbel
Facebook: The Bell & Brisket
This trailer has the potential to become a legend of the Street Food world, be part of it.
Here's an idea of the menu:
__large.jpg "Photo(10)")
Project Files
Update 16
15-10-2012 06:05 PM
Dear Brisketeers!
What can I say? We didn’t quite make it.
Thank you so much for your support, and don’t worry, the trailer will happen somehow. Plan B is already being activated.
The crowdfunding process has been an interesting one, and if I was to attempt it again I’d probably pitch it slightly differently, so a good learning curve.
Please make sure you keep up to date with the unfolding story of the Brisket Box , and will someone please come up with a decent name for it!
Follow on Twitter @brisketbel
FaceBook: The Bell & Brisket
And come and say hello at Harringay Market on a sunday.
Thanks again everyone,
Bel.x
Update 15
09-10-2012 10:11 AM
Dear Brisketeers,
This is now the last week of me harrassing, nagging, and generally irritating you. I know, I know, you’ve already pledged, so why am I still hassling you? Because we still have £7k to raise in the next 6 days, and we all want this project to happen!
The trailer is sitting up in Luton waiting to be converted into “Bel’s Brisketty Beer Box” ( it really needs a name btw)
So please keep up the energy and introduce the project to as many people as you know. We need a few big hitters to go for the £1k pledges. So if you know anyone who likes a good party and has a big back garden - they’re the one’s we need!
In other news…B&B is now part of the Kerb Street Food collective, their site is going live this week. This is only good news as they get massive press coverage so its a great association. Just need the trailer to top it off!
In the meantime…here’s a few more pics that went up on FB recently…just to make you a bit hungry…
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bell-Brisket/
Thanks guys..
Brisket Bel.x
Update 14
04-10-2012 01:17 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
11 days left of the project, and we still have a way to go. I’ve been going mental on Twitter this week, getting big names to help promote the project. Its had an effect but it takes about 1 in every 100 views to this page that actually make a pledge. So its a numbers game and I need your help!
You guys have already pledged, meaning you want this project to happen, and I thank you so much for that. Its all or nothing so please help push it over this last 10 days. It would be an amazing achievement if we can turn this around so please tell all your friends, contacts, aquaintances, foodies, event managers, anyone who would take an interest in helping make the project work.
Thanks guys!!!
Bel.x
Update 13
28-09-2012 09:24 AM
Dear Brisketeers…
I’ve made the committment…I’ve bought the trailer.
Please check out my latest blog post.
Update 12
24-09-2012 03:26 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
We have 3 weeks left of this project, and I know the time will fly by. We have a long way to go to reach the £9k! So I’m asking you all for help to promote the project to get these wheels on the road. Those who have pledged so far, thank you so much, I would hate to have to hand back your pledges so spread the word!
Don’t forget there is the limited edition pledge which wins you a ‘bagel for life’ plus the party catering rewards.
I’ve taken a step forward….my car now has a tow hook! Now to find an old trailer. I’m slowly committing more and more to the project because I know this trailer will be such a hit once its made. I did a corporate event for Audi last week and they loved it, but they would love it even more if there was a horse box selling salt beef in their forecourt!
I am also now on the books for Eat St, who will get me more and more work, so everything is heading in the right direction.
Again, thanks for your support so far, lets keep it up and try and hit the target in the next 21 days!
Bel.x
Update 11
21-09-2012 12:26 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
There’s a free salt beef sarnie up for grabs, for anyone making a pledge this weekend. Come to Camden Town Brewery tonight or Harringay Market on Sunday to claim your prize!
Update 10
20-09-2012 09:09 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
Update for this weekend. B&B will be trading at Camden Town Brewery again tomorrow evening. The Street Feast gang will also be there so will be a lively evening! Then on Sunday I’ll be at Harringay market, which is going to experience its first “cashmob” as run by Harringay Online.
So as usual I am offering a free salt beef sarnie to anyone that pledges this weekend. And don’t forget there’s the limited editon £100 ‘bagel for life’ pledge!
Next week my plan is to make the first step in the trailer project; I’m going to actually buy the trailer…I’ve got my eye on one on ebay for £500….fingers crossed!
So this means we’ve got to get this campaign moving! Only three weeks left and still a long way to go, so spread th word and lets get these pledges in!
Thanks guys,
Bel.x
Update 9
17-09-2012 05:45 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
Bell & Brisket will be featured at the Food Blogger Connect event at the end of this month. Here’s an interview they did with me recently:
Bel.x
Update 8
13-09-2012 05:33 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
I’ve just been on a site visit to the House of St Barnabus, ahead of the Lipsticks and Moustaches event in October, where B&B is going to be catering. Its a really fabulous venue and fits perfectly with the vintage theme they are planning. There will be some amazing acts and crazy activities, I met one guy there today who is “going to be doing something special with marshmallows”. I can’t wait.
Here’s the flyer for it if any of you fancy a vintage night out…don’t forget your moustache though. Very important.
Bel.x
Update 7
08-09-2012 10:02 AM
Dear Brisketeers,
This is the latest news from the world of Bell & Brisket!
http://thebrisket.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/the-brisket-september-broadcast/
Spread the word, we still ahve a long way to go before these wheels are on the road!
Bel.x
Update 6
30-08-2012 09:39 AM
Massive thank you to Sarah Gildersleeve for her generous pledge yesterday…slowly slowly we will catchy the monkey! (sorry haven’t had my coffee yet, so get very delirious when people make pledges!)
Bel.x
Update 5
29-08-2012 05:32 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
Article about foodie crowdfunding featuring yours truely! Hopefully this will help get these wheels turning. Thanks for your support so far.
http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/introducing-londons-food-funders-8092448.html
Bel.x
Update 4
28-08-2012 10:56 AM
Dear Brisketeers,
Just wanted to share this article with you. Everytime I see news like this, where they always talk about the same set of street food vehicles, I shout at the papers “just you wait till you see Bell & Brisket’s Wheels!!!”
Lets give these journalists something new to talk about!
Bel.x
Update 3
26-08-2012 06:23 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
Latest news from beef HQ…
Bell & Brisket has been asked to trade at several events on the coming weeks, one is a private do which came via Eat St, and the other sounds like great fun. Its a charity event & B&B is going to be the only food trader there…best get a team together quick!
Here’s the link to the event, come on over if you fancy a glam night out:
http://www.thesecretevent.co.uk/
See you there!
Bel.x
Update 2
26-08-2012 10:42 AM
Dear Brisketeers,
Latest news from beef HQ…
Bell & Brisket has been asked to trade at several events on the coming weeks, one is a private do which came via Eat St, and the other sounds like great fun. Its a charity event & B&B is going to be the only food trader there…best get a team together quick!
Here’s the link to the event, come on over if you fancy a glam night out:
http://www.thesecretevent.co.uk/
See you there!
Bel.x
Update 1
24-08-2012 12:01 PM
Dear Brisketeers,
Just letting you guys know that I am trading at Camden Town Brewery tonight, (bloody lovely beer). So come on over for a sarnie and an Ale, there’s a really good vibe there on a Friday night.
Also spread the word that anyone who makes a pledge today will get a Salt Beef Bagel, on the house, and if I’m in an exceptionally nice mood, I may even shout a pint or two.
Lets get these wheels on the road, tell eveyone.
Bel.x
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