Thrive Street, the Mary Portas-curated pop-up market, hits London on October 24. Situated in Shoreditch’s Truman Brewery, and backed by Mastercard and Worldpay, the three-day event champions the vitality and diversity of Britain’s independent retail sector.
Mary “Queen of Shops” Portas, Mastercard and Worldpay have handpicked 15 small, community-minded brands to take part in the market. These small, innovative businesses are all united by a passion for crafting beautiful, one-of-a-kind items for people who want to shop for products with purpose, character and innovation.
Participating brands include: Amamus, DoodlePippin, Finnson, Fresh Flour, Genevieve Sweeney, The House of Spectacles, Mantidy, Mother Cuppa, Nini Organics, Nocrudo, Olfactiveo, Pepper You, Round Retail, Storigraphic, Tom & Teddy and Wanderlust Life.
Mary Portas OBE, retail expert and Thrive Street curator, said: “Small and growing businesses are the beating heart of our economy and the soul of our communities. They bring creativity, culture, and character to our high streets – and they need more than applause; they need real support. That’s why we created Thrive Street 2025 together with Mastercard and Worldpay. A space where brilliant independent brands can come together, be seen, be supported, and show the world what the future of business truly looks like.”
Thrive Street comes as research shows that shopping at small, independent retailers makes people feel happy and connected to their community. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of UK consumers say it makes them feel good about where they live, with that figure soaring to over 78% among 25- to 34-year-olds. Meanwhile, 66% said shopping at local independents made them feel part of their community, rising to a whopping 79.29% of 25- to 34-year-olds.
Simon Forbes, division president, UK & Ireland, Mastercard, said: “We’re delighted to bring Thrive Street to London. By supporting local independents, people are doing more than merely making purchases – they’re investing in their neighbourhoods. Thrive Street 2025 puts this spirit into action, and we’re proud to champion the businesses powering Britain’s high streets.”
Chris Wood, general manager, SMB International, Worldpay, said: “At Worldpay, we’re proud to support small businesses that turn inspiration into action. Behind every transaction, there’s a local business with a story, and events like Thrive Street remind us of the incredible impact these businesses have on our communities and the future of British retail.”
Mastercard and Worldpay have long been committed to supporting small businesses in the UK.
Mastercard has been helping SMEs in the UK pay and get paid quickly and securely for more than 60 years and has helped connect over one million UK entrepreneurs to vital financial services, tools, and resources through its Strive programme launched in 2021.
Worldpay has been empowering UK small and growing businesses for decades with trusted, simple, and secure payment technology to meet the demands of the modern consumers in-store and online.
