The Mac Factory begins London expansion with Covent Garden pop up

By Sophie Witts

- Last updated on GMT

Covent Garden bar Earlham Street Clubhouse will host The Mac Factory pop up
Covent Garden bar Earlham Street Clubhouse will host The Mac Factory pop up

Related tags Street food Barbecue

Street food concept The Mac Factory is opening a weekly pop up at Covent Garden based Earlham Street Clubhouse, and plans to open a permanent site later this year.

The gourmet Mac and Cheese connoisseurs will be at the American themed bar every Saturday from 14 March – 11 April between midday and 6pm.

Founder and head chef Graham Bradbury, previously of The Gherkins Axe and The Chancery, told BigHospitality the business has its eye on expansion.

He said: “This is our first pop up and we’re looking to continue with other venues. We have been contacted by a new opening in Brixton called Beast of Brixton, a gastro pub and bar who want to feature street food traders, and we are hoping to be the first.

“The intention is to get our own permanent bricks and mortar site. There are two potential spots we are looking at in Camden, but at this stage we are still in talks.”

The permanent site will be based on the American diner concept and feature an expanded range of gourmet American style fast food. Dishes will include southern fried chicken smoked for six hours and coated in a sourdough crumble, smoked brisket, homemade barbecue sauce, and the signature mac and cheese.

Remaining accessible 

Bradbury said the idea was to keep up with street food trends while remaining accessible.

He said: “People are already doing this sort of thing but it’s either pop ups on the street or high end diners where you pay £18 per pulled pork sandwich. We wanted to keep this around the lower end of fast food prices, around £6.50-£7 for a meal.

"The idea is you can still get the street food meal but just in an establishment. We've found there is a gap in the market for that, and it's where our vision is at the moment."

Research in 2014 charted the increasing popularity of American style cuisine​ in the UK, with operators continuing to diversify away from the traditional burger.

The Mac Factory is currently open seven days a week at London's Camden Lock Market.

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