Bank holiday weekend is here and St Martin’s Square has got a right treat in store for you! Two of our absolute favourites, Tonne and Crafty, are collaborating for a street party complete with awesome food, tasty drinks and some of Leicester’s best creatives popping up too. In this week’s BID Spotlight feature, we caught up with Stefan from Tonne and Andrea from Crafty to find out more.
You guys are collaborating on an event for Bank Holiday Sunday, what made the two of you come together for the event?
We’ve got to know each other as we’ve shared the space, it would have been mad not to do something together before the summer is out. A street party down our little lane seemed a perfect summer celebration showcasing what we do and collaborating with some awesome independents and creatives of Leicester. Tonne and Crafty have a great synergy often caring for the same customers; beers at Tonne, burgers at Crafty. Nada will be involved selling Kombucha and Realms of Rummage will be hosting a fair upstairs at Crafty St Martin’s. It’s been great to plan and get excited about a joint summer gathering.
Tell us a little more about what everyone can expect on the day?
We’ll be furnishing the outside area as one, the sun will shine on our benches, beanbags and bar stools and allow you to buy beer, eat burgers and enjoy the music in one joint venue. Crafty will be hosting Realms of Rummage upstairs and a can stand by Purity Brewing selling the Crafty faves; Lawless and Longhorn as well as showing off their new Pure Cider created in partnership with Celtic Marches. Crafty will be cooking Smashed Oklahoma onion burgers and veggie Panko ‘Shroom and 12 hour cherry wood smoked pork shoulder buns from The Artisan Butcher, Market Harborough. Nada will be joining the festivities selling Kambucha and Tonne have invited Round Corner Brewing of Melton Mowbray to park up their custom D Reg Landy mobile taproom.
Tonne opened around 6 months ago now, how have you enjoyed those first few months of business?
Well from Crafty’s point of view we’ve loved loved loved having them opposite!!!
Yeh, it’s been amazing!! The support from the local businesses has been amazing and our customers are awesome. the team are really enjoying themselves too and we hope to continue being your go to for craft beer and cocktails in the Square! We’ve been over-overwhelmed by the support!
What sets Tonne apart from some of the other bars in the city?
We have the biggest beer selection in Leicester now which is amazing! We didn’t set out with this as a goal but we are happy it’s happened. At the end of the day (to quote the campfire guys) “we strive to have the house party you wanna be at, but don’t want to clean in the morning!” – isn’t that what being at a bar is all about? having fun and enjoying life.
How do you find St Martin’s Square as a destination in the city?
It’s the place to be in Leicester full stop. Cracking food and beverage offerings make St Martin’s Square a really desirable destination for a great night out. Awesome atmosphere as businesses work together to engage and excite customers from and visiting Leicester. More venues to come will only add to the great vibe of the place.
What drink from Tonne pairs perfectly with a burger from Crafty?
Hanalei IPA to fit the Oklahoma burger, Schofferhofer for the ‘Shroom and Tiny Rebel’s Clwb Tropicana for the pulled pork buns. All of the above are excellent beverages for a long summer evening!
You’re also collaborating with Realms of Rummage – how important is it that independents all support each other for events like this?
It will be great to have so many talented creators sharing their wares upstairs at Crafty including cakes by Bitsys Emporium, garments by Good Girl Gang, prints by Jazz Wade to name a few. Leicester has some great independents, amazing artists, illustrators and inventors – collaborations like this are super exciting and hugely supported by the people of Leicester. The space will be transformed into a gallery for people to browse and buy, we are very proud to be hosting them.
Sum up in under 10 words why everyone should head down on Sunday
27 degrees, cold beer, live music, stalls to rummage, Crafty – 100% fun!
So just a reminder, what do people need to know?
Sunday 25 August • Starts at 3pm • Food from 3pm to 8pm • It’s going to be 27 degrees, get your pins out! • Open Streets Greyfriars Festival is also only from 1pm – 4pm so you can enjoy guided rides and walking tours too (also street closures if drinking)
It’s going to be great!
Our BID Spotlight features are brought to you in collaboration with BID Leicester.
