Small Business, Big Impact: Concerto Christmas Pop-Up Champions High Street Comeback

Concerto Catering
Oct 31, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jun 25

In a time when high streets across the UK are facing increasing challenges, Concerto Catering - a small, family-run and female-owned business - is on a mission to bring back the magic of Christmas shopping with the launch of its festive pop-up, Concerto Christmas, on Bromley High Street in South East London. Launching on 1st November, the company is setting out to inspire people to return to the high street - not just in Bromley, but as part of a larger movement to reignite the nostalgia for high street traditions that many of us remember fondly.

The changing face of the high street

Mounting economic challenges and changing consumer behaviours continue to transform the high street as we know it and retailers are under increasing pressure to adapt in order to survive. Data* released in January paints a sobering picture: an estimated 10,000+ retail outlets closed in 2023 alone - a stark reflection which highlights the plight of our beloved UK high streets.

Research from Nationwide** last December provided a beacon of hope when it revealed that 58% of Brits planned to visit their local high street in a show of support. This renewed enthusiasm for in-person shopping is music to the ears of high streets everywhere!

Concerto Christmas: Reviving That Nostalgic Christmas Shopping Experience

Concerto Catering presents Concerto Christmas, its first-ever high street pop-up shop. As a business typically without a high street presence, this is a show of solidarity with fellow independent retailers and an invitation for people to step out of their homes, reconnect with their community, and rediscover the joy of browsing small, local businesses.

Concerto Christmas will be serving up fresh, homemade food to warm up Christmas shoppers on chilly winter days throughout November and December. This one-stop shop will stock a carefully curated selection of luxurious charcuterie products, fine cheeses and artisanal items - all produced by independent and British suppliers.

Excess and wastage will all be donated to local charitable causes and the team will be spreading the cheer further by delivering homemade soup to soup kitchens around the borough. A vibrant local shopping community not only supports independent businesses but also strengthens the bonds within the community.

There is still magic to be found in high street shopping

Many of us dream of seeing our local high streets bustling with Christmas shoppers and festive cheer again. Concerto Christmas is not just a shop, it represents a revival of what makes high street shopping so special, especially at Christmas time: the joy of discovery, supporting independent traders and local pride. Drawing in tourists, bolstering the local economy, preserving a town's identity and serving as a community hub that is diverse and collaborative are just a few reasons why the high street still matters.

Quote from Fiona Harrhy, founder of Concerto Catering and Executive Chef

“Christmas has always been our favourite time of year! A time where food is at the heart of most homes, bringing people together and celebrating with family and friends is what we, as a company, do best. For 25 years, we have lived and worked in Bromley and have seen how the local shopping scene has changed over the years. A Christmassy food shop just felt right - to be able to inject some Christmas cheer onto the high street at this time, inviting the whole community to come together and enjoy the season is a really exciting project!”