Young British Foodie: Jasmin Ford, general manager at the Doodle Bar, Battersea

What she does: as manager of Battersea's The Doodle Bar, Ford organises food, drink, entertainment and events. The bar was started as a pop up in 2009 after the site’s owner, who was threatened with having his building knocked down, gave it to them rent-free for nine months. It soon became a space where people could connect through drawing and, says Ford, “It was super popular. People just loved doodling. We ran on an ad-hoc basis for a year and a half, then we got a proper licence, refurbished the space and reopened in 2011.”

Why she does it: “For me it’s the drawing element. Drawing is my thing. I’m a freelance illustrator and I do the doodles every day. It’s also just the array of people I get to meet. I’ve always wanted to create a hub where people can meet… an environment where you would want to go. That’s what I like about it… it’s also a central place for all the interesting people – artists – to meet.”

How she did it: Ford worked as a receptionist at nearby Squint Opera and as office manager and events organiser for Will Allsopp, the architect instrumental in putting together the art space, TESTBED1. “Events were where I shone, rather than doing the admin. So when we started the Doodle bar, I’d be running around doing that and admin. In between the first and second Doodle Bar, I helped to run a rooftop garden in New York.”

What’s next: “We’re organising all kinds of crazy events. We’d like to create seasons of things like illustrators, craft whiskeys and craft booze. We’re also going to build a rotating kitchen where we’ll have guest chefs for a month or two months doing residencies and supperclubs. Recently we were discussing the idea of a bakery, building a kitchen garden and a beehive too.”

Doodle Bar, 33 Parkgate Road, SW11 4NP; thedoodlebar.com