London vegan news, reviews & events
Manchester is rapidly carving out a reputation for being a particularly special place for vegan food and the photo that crash landed in my inbox today is further proof.
Tucked away in the once derelict (and now slightly less derelict) barrio of Manchester known as the Northern Quarter, a non-vegan canteen and bar called Soup Kitchen is serving up one of the most impressive vegan meals I have heard of in the UK.
I stumbled into a vegan-friendly grocery store in Manchester a few weeks ago and it was all so surreal and unexpected. I’m a bit lost for words.
I’ll try my best.
Check out this interesting event taking place at Manchester Metropolitan University next month.
I love when veganism gets taken into the academic sphere and this free day of activities is exactly what is needed urgently on campuses all over the planet (although I hope someone on the day will point out to The Vegetarian Society that compassion doesn’t end with meat).
Are you going to head along? Does this inspire you to take action and spread information at your school, college or university?
You can read more about the Humanities in Public group run by staff of MMU’s Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Social Science by clicking here.
During my recent trip to Manchester, I found myself staggering around the city centre after a few too many vegan beers in need of late night snacks. Thankfully a 24 hour shop had something to fill the void.
The late night/early morning convenience store on Piccadilly Gardens carried the Forest Foods range of products, a range with a surprising number of vegan options. I can’t say the items I picked up were incredible or even above average but they certainly sent my tummy to bed with more than just a few litres of beer in it.
Check out the photo I took of my goods below. Not the best photo, but a drunk FGV stumbling around a Travelodge at 1am will never do much better.
If you have been following me on Instagram and Twitter these past few days, you would have seen I have been eating everything vegan I could get my hands on in Manchester.
One thing related to veganism that I didn’t eat was this very interesting poster hanging on the notice board of V Revolution.
I think I am living in the wrong city.
I want vegan junk food. I want vegan comfort food. I want the food to be tasty. I want the food to have flair. I want to eat the food in a super cool setting. I want cake options. I want drinks like shakes and floats.
I got exactly what I wanted in Manchester.
V Revolution is the type of food provider the UK has been screaming out for and of which vegan Londoners are surely gravely jealous. Of course the food is incredible or I wouldn’t be considering moving back to Manchester, but I’ll get to that with photos shortly. Let’s first talk about the fucking coolness of the shop.
Online Morrissey fan group Mozarmy is set to stage a charity event at an inner city Manchester nightclub on May 26th, 2013 in order to raise money for the Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home.
There isn’t a person on Earth with a working knowledge of popular culture who would dispute the fanaticism of Morrissey/The Smiths followers. But far from sitting in the solitude of their dark bedrooms listening to the songs that saved their lives, modern day Morrissey fans have evolved with the times to ensure they stay connected with their hero’s music and, more importantly, each other.
Smiths and Morrissey fans around the globe have embraced a virtual Twitter group called Mozarmy like a second family. The online fan collective, founded by London-based Scot Julie Hamill (@marriedtothemoz), brings together like-minded music fans sharing a common obsession with all things Morrissey and The Smiths. Julie is the perfect leader for such a group, as her riveting ’15 Minutes’ interview series with Morrissey/Smiths collaborators proves (juliehamill.com).
Perform a Twitter #Mozarmy search and you will discover lyric trade-offs, witty banter, news updates, the weekly Mozarmy quiz, picture swapping and possibly some virtual romance between far-flung Moz disciples perched on opposite sides of the world.
This unique fan club is set to take their commitment to the next level by staging a unique Morrissey/Smiths night with special guests in legendary Manchester venue Star & Garter on May 26th, 2013.
The night is not only a chance for virtual friends to discover whom among them is real, but it will also feature appearances and entertainment by noted artists and Morrissey/Smiths associates as well as raise funds for local animal charity the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home.
Manchester legend and Smiths/Morrissey photographer Kevin Cummins will be taking photos on the evening, broadcaster/performer and Morrissey fan Amy Lamé is hosting a special quiz while former Morrissey drummer Andrew Paresi and bassist Jonny Bridgwood will be making appearances.
More surprise guests to be confirmed closer to the event.
Tickets are available for £12 (+ fee) from mozarmymeet-estw.eventbrite.com
For more information contact Julie Hamill via contact@juliehamill.com
First Annual Mozarmy Meet
Star & Garter Manchester
Sunday May 26th, 2013
8pm – 4am
Here is some exciting news that will brighten your pedestrian start to the week.
US Comedian Jamie Kilstein is gracing the UK with his irreverent presence this month during a live stand up tour that will make stops in London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Jamie is well-known for his political comedy podcast Citizen Radio that he runs out of his Brooklyn apartment with his partner Allison Kilkenny. He has been featured as a comedian on many cable and TV shows including Conan O’Brien and these UK gigs come hot on the heels of two wildly successful shows in Seattle and Portland.
He is a funny person and many people love him for his social justice-charged brand of comedy, but you are probably wondering why a chubby, queer, food-obsessed blogger is hipping you to this news on a vegan blog.
Not only is Jamie Kilstein a progressive comedian resisting oppression of people, he is also a fierce advocate for non-human animals as a longtime vegan. Check out this excerpt about being vegan from one of his shows before checking below for dates and ticket details for the upcoming UK tour.
Be quick. Jamie is truly a sensation and tickets are already moving swiftly.
You will probably have noticed that I like to start my stories with an anecdote or two. Just a little something to make you sure you made the correct choice by clicking on my link.
But I have a problem.
I sat down with an idea in my head on how to write about a fabulous health food store I discovered in the English countryside. My desire was to make witty references to several famous citizens from the town where the store is located. I searched high and low for a famous name I recognised, but I kept hitting a brick wall. Time after time and search after search, only one name came up as a notable person from the village. Dear readers, I give you the lovely northern town of Mossley and whoever the heck Melanie Sykes is…
Here I go again. The selfish, fat, gay vegan is going to bad mouth a restaurant that makes vegan food. I don’t know how I live with myself. But seriously… I gotta call it the way I see it, right? You wouldn’t want me to be all fake and lovely about a place if it just didn’t set my world on fire.
So here we go. Sorry Earth Cafe of Manchester. Your food and (some of) your service left a whole lot to be desired.
