Economic chaos will undoubtedly be the overwhelming legacy of 2009, but its not all bad- the instability of businesses and availability of empty shop space has led to an outbreak of Pop-Up bookshops, restaurants, cafes, fashion stores, smoking lounges, art galleries, oh, and that Marmite one. As with the infamous black stuff temporarily boasting its own shop on Regent street, the pop-up is a love/hate thing. Either you embrace the innovation, the resourcefulness, the new and exciting, or you just hate it for being different and reminding you that the business that used to be there went bust. Whatever your feelings, there's no avoiding them, so here's my list of stuff about to pop your way.



Black Dog Publishing are joining forces with Black Rat projects to set up an antiquarian book shop inside one of their railway arches.Expect books from independent publishers, fanzines, second hand books and artwork on display, oh, and some haunting! The idea of creating the bookshop came when the Black Rat owners slept in the gallery one evening and were woken by the toilet flushing and books falling from the office bookshelves. Thinking they were being burgled, they turned the lights on only to find the gallery empty. Asking around, a local landlord mentioned that the gallery had been used to store the stock of legendary Victorian book dealer F. J. Williams who disappeared in 1903 and is rumoured to haunt various pubs and houses around the East End.Spooky!
Opening on the 3rd December.More details here:
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More literature from Phaidon who have followed up their Piccadilly pop-up store with one at 155 King's Road, more about the Piccadily shop here :
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If its Christmas gifts you're after, then head down to Brick Lane where The Print Club London are setting up their pop-up gallery/shop, where they'll be selling limited edition silk screenprints from both established and new London artists and illustrators. Starting at £35, this is a pretty sound art investment, as well as some sweet wall candy. To get your hands on the most popular prints, head to the opening night on the 18th December, 6-9pm, ...








If its Fashion you're after, then buy a t-shirt from The Environmental Justice Foundation pop-up shop in Kingly Court- only open til 27th November, or whenever they run out of stock.The limited edition range of T-shirts designed in collaboration with fashion heavyweights such as Luella, Giles Deacon, Betty Jackson, Christian Lacroix, Alice Temperley, Richard Nicoll and Ciel have certainly been flying off the shelves.

26th November - 3rd January: Gorgeous French site Colette are setting up a pop-up venue in the Truman Brewery Boiler House, in collaboration with Nissan Cube. Don't be put off by how ugly the car is- Colette has hand picked 60 unique interior decorating pieces and kitsch Japanese inspired gadgets to feature in her first ever London based store. Venture to the website if you dare- you have to fill in a lengthy questionnaire to be admitted- whether this is an attempt at creating an illusion of exclusivity, I don't know. ...





Food-wise, I've already interviewed the lovely Rosie Lovell about her new pop-up shop selling her cook book, Spooning with Rosie as well as quirky delights by the likes of David Shrigley, and of course pates, jams and other home cooked treats.Read more here: ...


One of the first pop-ups I ever fell for was Behind the Pale Blue Door, a restaurant in the home of acclaimed set designer and artist Tony Hornecker. After a year of extended runs, Tony has finally reclaimed his living room and bedroom, only to take over the Architectural Foundation. There he'll be creating a whole street of rooms in which to dine on festive delights, expect part art installation, part restaurant, part social experiment with performances by drag queens amongst the joys on the menu.
Details here: ...

Trendy restaurant and gallery, Sketch is popping up at The Royal Academy of Art on December 3rd for two months in conjunction with the GSK Contemporary 'Earth' exhibition.In keeping with the show's theme, the cafe will be aiming to operate sustainably, adopting handmade patchwork rugs and hot-water bottles to deal with the chill in the outdoor creperie rather than fuel-burning heaters.Booking essential.
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Private Members Club Home House has also jumped on the bandwagon, creating ‘Le Fumoir Snug’. Designed in the style of a 19th Century smoking lounge, the snug is decked with cracked-leather Georgian armchairs and hand-made sofas and the walls adorned with ancient maps and portraits.Take that, Smoking Ban!
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