London vegan news, reviews & events
Here is a super quick reminder.
You can start making plans to visit The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival in Leeds on June 13, 2015.
This event is run completely by volunteers in order to raise money for animal charities. You got a problem with that? No, didn’t think so!
You can visit the event website here and let them know you are coming along over on the Facebook event.
People in the UK love a cooked breakfast and the number one question I get asked by readers is concerned with that very topic.
Who serves a vegan version of a full English breakfast?
Vegans in Leeds will know the answer to this query. Yep, check out my recent breakfast at Global Tribe Cafe in Leeds city centre.
Hey Leeds people and visitors to Leeds. Get tasty vegan tacos and burritos!
I was slipping down a Leeds side-street a few days ago (I was in town to watch Morrissey perform) when I saw the word ‘vegan’ stamped on a cafe window. Of course I investigated.
Are you up early on this fine Saturday morning with no idea how you can get the most out of life?
I have the answer.
Here is some wonderful news for the vegans and beer lovers of Leeds.
Wharf Chambers Co-operative Club has announced the return of its beer festival, showcasing some of the best in Yorkshire breweries. A hit in last year’s heatwave, the event is going ahead on 19-20th September at the club on Wharf Street, Leeds offering a selection of 25 beers across the spectrum.
Among those returning are last year’s favourite, the award winning Golden Salamander from Bradford, along with new offerings from the likes of other favourites Brass Castle, Marble and Two Roses. The festival is also including beers from in and around York, such as the Great Yorkshire, Rudgate and Harrograte Breweries as well as the York Brewery itself, with a few from further afield such as Wold Top from outside Scarborough. In addition to casks there will also be a selection of keg beers from Golden Owl, Northern Monk and Brass Castle.
There will be over twenty casks and several kegs in the selection with cider lovers also being catered for. All beer and food will be suitable for vegans so everyone can get stuck in.
To make sure all attendees are having the best time possible, local DJs will be spinning tunes throughout the event and into the night. I am upset that I won’t be able to make it to Leeds for this event but thrilled to see such wonderful vegan happenings in the Northern city that holds a special place in my heart (once you have lived in Armley, you never really leave Leeds).
Entry to the Wharf Chambers Beer Festival will be £4, which includes a free half pint and souvenir glass.
Get over to the Facebook event page now to RSVP and invite friends.
I love a good burger, me.
Fry it. Stick it in a bun. I want it. Slap some mustard on. Melt some plant-based cheese. I dream of these things.
This love of all things burger forced me into a difficult position a few days back. I was strolling the aisles of Aldi in Leeds (oh, the romance!) when my chubby, queer eyes spotted a vegetarian selection in the frozen food section.
Imagine my delight when I found not one box of vegan burgers, but three. Yep, all three products you see below were labeled suitable for vegans.
Which one did I buy? Scroll down to find out.
Living in London, it is easy to feel like you are at the centre of all things vegan in the UK. We have a monthly potluck, a monthly drinks event, a yearly beer fest, amazing vegan bakeries, vegan friendly restaurants and countless social events.
We have it pretty good in the capital and can often be guilty of overlooking the rest of the country when it comes to vegan good times. Take the upcoming vegan cupcake competition in Leeds. It sounds fab and should be celebrated.
Iron Cupcake: Leeds is a baking competition that has been happening for a few years in the Yorkshire city. Every time it runs, participants follow the designated theme to create 12 cupcakes in order to impress judges and take home a prize.
People not baking are welcome to buy tickets so they can take part in the excitement by watching the action unfold and getting a taste of the entries.
On March 9, 2014 the competition pushes the plant-based agenda by making the theme of Iron Cupcake: Leeds vegan. Yes, that right. Every single entry in the competition needs to be completely free of animal derived products.
Get over to the official website right now to book your place in the competition or grab a ticket to be a spectator.
Enjoy!
This is some enjoyable news, indeed. Congratulations to Leeds on welcoming the first ever Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival.
After quickly browsing the event website, it looks like it is going to be a solid show. The organisers have promised 100+ stalls, cooking demos, food samples, informative talks and more. It is all happening on May 10, 2014 right in the heart of Leeds city centre.
There is a general call out for presenters, stall holders, businesses and volunteers so do get involved if you would like to make The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival and event to remember.
Anyone planning on attending?
Check out the website for full details
Follow the festival on Twitter for updates
Like the festival on Facebook
I saw one of the most joyous things ever today. I had been in Leeds visiting friends over the weekend and was making my way to the train station this morning for my return journey to London when I spotted this sight. I don’t know what to attribute it to, but behold this completely empty Burger King in Leeds city centre. Amazing! Not one single person in the entire place at approximately 10am. Good going, Leeds.
I get a lot of stick for giving bad reviews to restaurants. Some people are of the mind that it is detrimental to veganism to publish negative reviews of vegetarian establishments that serve sub-standard vegan food. Maybe they think a cafe deserves credit for just trying to include us. That attitude doesn’t fly with me.
Why shouldn’t we expect the best when paying for vegan goods and services? Why shouldn’t we speak up when we think what we received was less than the best?
Restaurants and cafes deserve to know and I have the right to voice my opinion in any way I see fit. And when a veggie restaurant serves me delicious and well-made vegan food, I’m the first one to get the news out. I don’t complain for the sake of complaining.
All I do is tell it like it is and the way it is in Leeds at the moment is very promising indeed! A new vegetarian cafe has popped up in this Northern city and their commitment to vegan options could teach many vegetarian eateries more than a thing or two.
