Lower Marsh becomes a Fantasy High Street

Visitors and passers-by dined at Waterloo's pop-up Fantasy Cafe, visited vintage clothing boutique What the Butler Wore for a Fantasy Window Display and discovered the Loveliness of Lower Marsh in a new exhibition at Cafe del Marsh.

Open until 5pm on Saturday 6 July, Fantasy High Street claims to be a new model for arts festivals that explores the social, cultural and economic values of the high street and public space.

"We're incredibly excited to be working with such a stunning line up of renowned, high quality artists for our very first adventure in UK high streets," said founder and creative director Lydia Fraser-Ward.

"The Lower Marsh pilot marks just the beginning for Fantasy High Street; our plans are to work with other partners like Waterloo Quarter throughout London and the UK to creatively explore how arts and culture can play a crucial role in rejuvenating the high street and shaping its future role within local communities."

Helen Santer, chief executive of Waterloo Quarter BID, said: "Fantasy Cafe marks a hugely important partnership between Waterloo Quarter and Fantasy High Street.

"We have worked together to pool our expertise from cultural and business sectors to deliver an exciting new project which prompts important questions about the future of the British high street and tests new approaches to its reinvigoration."

Fantasy Cafe is one of a series of projects supported by the Waterloo 'Portas Pilot' scheme to revive the fortunes of The Cut and Lower Marsh.