Heinz sandwich

Heinz will next week launch a pop-up “sandwich automat” in Soho, where it will sell 800 sarnies for just 57p a pop – making it quite possibly the cheapest lunch in London.

The two-day takeover of 15 Bateman Street is timed to coincide with the start of National Picnic Week, giving Londoners a snack to take to nearby Soho Square, provided the weather behaves.

The concept – dubbed the “AutoMayoMat” – is inspired by the self-service automats that first appeared in Europe in the late 19th century, allowing customers to buy sarnies from individual vending compartments.

The event is a collab between mayo giant Heinz and Bristol-born sandwich shop Sandwich Sandwich, with the AutoMayoMat open from midday until 4pm on both days. Heinz says the concept will later tour other UK locations.

Customers will have a choice between The Chicken Kyiv, which combines crispy chicken, bacon, parsley soft cheese, caramelised onion chutney and Heinz Garlic Parmesan Mayo; and a vegetarian egg mayo sandwich featuring free-range egg mayonnaise, tomato, cucumber, rocket and Heinz Seriously Good Mayo.

Heinz says the pop-up aims to “bring sandwich joy back to lunch hour” amid claims over half of Brits no longer take a lunch break, instead eating al desko.

Sandwich Sandwich made the list of finalists for our inaugural Toast the City awards last year, joining Piccolo Bar, Banh Mi Keu Deli City, Halfcup, Porterford Butchers, Birleys, Dilieto and Dauns on the nominations list. It eventually lost out to the family-run Italian sandwich shop Piccolo Bar. 

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