For a decade, Reading’s food scene has been enhanced by Blue Collar. From pop-up events in Forbury Gardens, twice-weekly lunchtime events in Market Place, and its own home in Hosier Street, it has become a staple of the town.
While there are some residencies, such as The Burger Society and Gurts Wings, Blue Collar has thrived on bringing different cuisines to the town, the world on a plate.
Over the first weekend in March, a four-day celebration was held at Blue Collar Corner. Crowds flocked to enjoy locally brewed beer, DJ sets, and a host of food. Among the meals were Meatball Subs from The Bowler, khachapuri (cheese-filled flatbreads) from Georgian Feast, fried chicken from Swaadish Fried Chicken, and ham, egg and chips from Mac’s Deli.
For Blue Collar’s owner, Glen Dinning, the anniversary event was a great weekend.
“It was fantastic and the ultimate celebration of 10 years,” he said. “It was a really joyous celebration. When the venue is completely packed, inside and out, there is a real buzz. Everything is better when it’s like that, the music, the buzz, the vibes … everything! The weather held out as well; we couldn’t have asked for much more.
“The anniversary events have always been really enjoyable: we’ve done eight years, nine years and this year. It’s so enjoyable because of the food traders. They have been here along the way and part of this journey.
Two vendors who took part in last weekend’s celebration were there from the beginning: Peru Sabor and Georgian Feast.
“We mixed them up with some different names such as Cut The Mustard, who have a massive smoker and are barbecue specialists,” Glen says.
Peru Sabor was particularly pleasing for Glen as they attended the very first event, an outdoor street food festival in Forbury Gardens, then popping up in Market Place and Reading FC.
“When they started, no one really knew what Peruvian food was. They would cook with flame and imagination, it was quite theatrical and brilliant to watch, they built a cult following and drew people in because of how they cook.
“People came up to me at the weekend and asked for recommendations. They tried Peru Sabor and absolutely loved it. Their food is so different to anything else we’ve had: spiced chicken wraps with peppers, an ox heart special, and a steak wrap. They make their own sauces to go with it – it’s fantastic.
“Over 10 years, we’ve grown together, we’ve been through a lot together. I love working with Harry, the man behind Peru Sabor. Having him back sums up the birthday weekend: a chance to be a little bit nostalgic and enjoy food from one of the best street food traders in the UK.”
For Glen, it’s important that Blue Collar finds the best street food vendors around and there’s a reason for that: choice.
“If you go into a restaurant and see they have a massive menu, you might lose faith a little in how some of those meals will be, but with street food you have a specialist who is the absolute best in what they do,” he explains. “If you get that, you’re going to love it.
“The Bowler is a real old-school street food trader who was there when the scene first started in 2010-11. He’s written a book on cooking with meatballs, he’s honed his craft, and if you want meatball subs he’s your man because that’s his thing.
“It is the same with The Burger Society, and the Georgian Feast stall. Again, a decade ago, not many of us would have known what Georgian food was about, but they have built up an incredible following for their Khachapuri.
“That’s the fun of it. You have people who do a niche thing very, very well. When you put lots of them together, you’ve got options as well as having the specialists in each cuisine.”
A decade of immense change
When Glen launched Blue Collar back in 2016, the world was a different place. The Brexit vote had just happened, there had been no global pandemic, no war against Ukraine, no cost-of-living crisis, and Reading FC had yet to be bought by Dai Yongge.
“Covid is, without question, the thing that has probably shifted the dial and changed things in hospitality and in the street food industry. Things have been slightly different ever since,” Glen said, adding that the traders who have been going throughout that time are “great survivors”, while new names have also come forward.
“The scene has changed dramatically,” he continues. “Our palettes have widened so people are more willing to try different and interesting things.
“For me, it has been 10 years of my life that I’ve loved. The first event at Forbury was fantastic, but I wouldn’t have known it was the start of a journey that saw me have the chance to take on a derelict garden and build Blue Collar Corner. That is a top moment, but the journey has been fantastic. I’ve loved it.
“Events like this, street food, and bars … this is my favourite thing in the world, which is why I’ve gone into doing it as a job.”
The anniversary weekend was so busy, Glen didn’t really get a chance to stop and reflect on the journey so far, but he admits: “I’m always on to the next thing”.
That includes an unofficial Reading Half Marathon after-party on Sunday, 22 March, then Easter, which Glen says is one of his biggest weekends of the year.
“We’ve got DJ sets on every day of Easter, with rotating Street Food stalls popping up,” he promises.
“After that, we will be doing one of our Cheese Fest events over the weekend of April 18 and 19. Later in the year, we will bring back a barbecue event we did last year, and people loved, and a Christmas event … with the World Cup in between (11 June-19 July).
“There is a lot to look forward to, and I love it. I love it as much now as I did 10 years ago. I love the buzz when it all comes together, and people are enjoying themselves.”
For more on Blue Collar, log on to: https://www.bluecollarstreetfood.co.uk/
Photos: © Dijana Capan/DVision Images https://www.dvision-images.com/
Get Cheeselogs in your inbox!
Sign up to our weekly newsletter for the latest posts, news and surprises. It's completely free, and goes straight to your inbox.
