Provincial towns you jog round

New vegan pie and mash restaurant in Essex

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Get ready for a trip to the Leigh-on-Sea in Essex because after hearing this exciting news, you will all be rushing along for this amazing food experience.

The Acorn Pie & Mash restaurant is a fully licensed eatery serving comfort food and local beers. Basically, it is my kind of restaurant.

Located in the seaside resort of Old Leigh in Essex, they are a stone’s throw from the beach and Leigh-on-Sea train station.

Of course the main attraction are the pies, all served with mash and gravy or liquor, but there are plenty of other reasons to get along.

The shake menu is a thing of beauty and features flavours as diverse as After Eight, Bounty, Cookies & Cream, Snickers, and Fruit Trifle.

There is also a gorgeous vegan wine list and a range of bottled beers.

Follow The Acorn Pie & Mash on Facebook and Instagram. See the exact location of the restaurant thanks to Google Maps.

Vegan yoga retreat in Dorset

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My friend (and all-round vegan yoga superstar) Louise Wallis is hosting an amazing yoga retreat in May 2019.

And you wanna get booking because space is limited and these retreats ALWAYS book up super quickly.

Celebrate the May Day Bank Holiday weekend and the first stirrings of summer with 4 days and 3 nights of yoga and delicious vegan food in an idyllic location. Take a dip in the indoor heated pool, walk to the beach, or sit by the campfire (or wood burner) and relish every moment.

Treat yourself to:

  • 4 x days and 3 x nights full-board stay in a beautiful eco-Retreat
  • Exclusive use of the venue & all facilities, including heated pool (see photo below)
  • 8 x Yoga / Meditation / Relaxation classes
  • Delicious vegan meals prepared by the resident Chef (mainly organic, local produce)
  • Complimentary gift bag
  • Free WiFi and parking

The venue

Bonhays Retreat Centre is a magical place. A secluded sanctuary, nestled in Dorset’s rolling hills between Bridport and Lyme Regis, and just 2 miles from Charmouth beach. With its heated pool, comfortable accommodation, valley views, and tranquil location it’s the perfect getaway.

If you are interested in finding out prices, accommodation types, and the yoga schedule for this May 3 – May 6, 2019 retreat, see all the information online now.

Vegan eateries in Hampshire UK

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If you often find yourself in or around the Hampshire region of the UK, you need to make time to dine with these two family-owned vegan eateries.

Offbeet have locations in Wickham and New Forest… and the food looks sensational, as does the decor.

Vicky from Offbeet gave me a bit of an insight into what makes them tick:

Here at OFFBEET we offer innovative plant based food and drink in a unique setting. We’re passionate about sourcing the best, ethical and sustainable ingredients and products for our customers; better for us and better for the planet! Our menu is kept local and seasonal, with our organic fruit and veg coming from the vegetable farm we are located on, so we always have new and exciting dishes being developed. We have an onsite cookery school offering intimate classes focusing on practical learning and challenging the status quo of vegan cuisine. Come and check us out.

Before I show you some of these glorious food photos, I want you to know you can follow the eateries on Instagram. The Wickham location is here and the New Forest location here.

How fabulous!

This food looks world class.

You can see the exact location of each restaurant thanks to Google Maps. Click here for Wickham and here for the New Forest.

Click here to find out more information about the Offbeet cooking classes.

New vegan store in Northern England town

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Do you live in, or visit, the northern town of Halifax in West Yorkshire?

Great news. You have a brand new independent vegan business to throw your support behind!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq4QiiplD6E/

Leaf is a small, independent business situated inside The Piece Hall in Halifax.

It is stocked with plant-based food, groceries, pantry items, toiletries, gifts and zero waste products.

I used to work in Halifax many years ago and it was tough to imagine something like Leaf popping up, so I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for the people of this town.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrCw3L6Aj1p/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq7aywkA5SZ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq7Qcgeg7-y/

Take a moment out of your day to follow Leaf of Halifax on Instagram.

UK’s first vegan social centre opens this week

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Great news.

The UK’s first vegan social centre is launching this Friday in Sheffield!

Heartcure Collective is the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, converted from and old warehouse in the centre of town.

Set to feature Vibes Food Co cafe and coffee shop, zero waste shop Zero Hero, ethical clothing store Wild Ones, a library, kids area, and more, Heartcure Collective has been in planning and development for two years.

The centre will focus on animal rights, sustainability and the environment. Through hosting workshops, talks, film screenings and events the centre aims to empower people to create change in the world.

Zero Hero will offer a mixture of essential package-free foods, toiletries and additional products to help the community live more sustainably while Wild Ones will stock ethical clothing and accessories including Heartcure Clothing, wallets and purses made from cork, and the highly anticipated Eden Perfumes.

The centre will have a dedicated kids area with a small selection of books and toys.

The library is packed full with books focussing on animal rights, human rights, feminism, anarchism, and sustainability. There is also a computer with software for video and photo editing for community use.

Heartcure Collective is a non-profit community interest company with all profits helping to sustain the centre and will allow them to host low-cost fundraising events for local charities.

If you are in Sheffield, visit Heartcure Collective on or after Friday November 30, 2018. The opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 9am-10pm and Sunday 10am-8pm.

Follow Heartcure Collective on Instagram and Facebook.

New vegan eatery in Sheffield

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There is a new vegan eatery in Sheffield called Shed.

Shed is described as:

We create affordable, super-tasty plant-based food that goes big on nutrition and even bigger on flavour. And we’re on a mission to inspire and to nourish the growing number of people embracing a plant-based lifestyle.

The new eatery is housed inside a venue called Cutlery Works which is located about a 1-minute work from mega venue Church and Make No Bones.

Check out some of the Shed food photos below, follow them on Instagram, and see their exact location thanks to Google Maps.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQOCSRgqtj/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqKK49ogi5-/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqC_9OWH-8R/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BprKlYfAsws/

Vegan business attacked online by trolls

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The owners of UK vegan BnB Loaf have recently experienced targeted online trolling and hate comments.

Loaf is a bed and breakfast located in Northumberland that lists its selling points as the glorious countryside, nearby coast, lovely rooms, log fires, and of course the fab vegan food.

The comments directed at the owners and vegans in general are hateful and vile.

You can see them below in a series of screengrabs shared here with permission from Loaf co-owner Karen.

As you can see, the comments are not only anti-vegan but also anti-Muslim and homophobic.

All of this because a vegan company shared a photo of vegan food on their own Facebook page.

I asked co-owner Karen if she could share how she felt about the abuse.

This is what she told me:

Sadly this is not uncommon. In the past I have deleted or hidden these sort of comments, almost feeling the shame the writer should have. I think it’s time we all stop dismissing online abuse as ‘just trolling’ and recognise it for what it is. Hate speech. The lowest, most cowardly form of bullying, hidden behind a social media profile. I think it’s time we all start calling people out on this. It shames us all and social media platforms should have a zero tolerance to this sort of behaviour. I also have to question why an ethical choice to do the least harm causes so much anger to some people.

I would like to express my sincere solidarity with Karen and Loaf and offer my support. I implore you to show your support for Loaf by booking with them and following them on social media.

You can visit the Loaf website here to view their rooms and book a stay. You can support independent vegan business AND holiday in beautiful Berwick-upon-Tweed close to the Scottish border.

Please follow Loaf on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Vegan Christmas menu to impress

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Still looking for your Christmas party venue, Sheffield?

Church: Temple of Fun with food by Make No Bones is available for parties of all sizes from 8 to 60 people.

For larger groups, they can give you exclusive access to their small bar along with a private, roped off area. Drink packages can also be tailored on request.

The exclusive vegan Christmas Banquet Menu from Make No Bones is available for advance bookings at £20.95 per head and it looks incredible!

  • Prawn cocktail
  • Blue cheese and broccoli tempura (GF)
  • Maple bacon, shredded brussel sprout and nutmeg tostadas
  • Roast beef stuffed Yorkshire puddings with horseradish drizzle
  • Sage and onion breaded turkey with cranberry dip (GFO)
  • Pigs in blankets
  • Cauliflower cheese (GF)(N)
  • Roast potato canapes (GF)
  • Leek and parsnip gratin (N)
  • Chocolate orange and spiced rum brownie with blood orange custard

To book your party, please email booking@templeof.fun with your party size, chosen date, time and package requirements.

You can also follow Make No Bones on Instagram.

Incredible plant based restaurant in Norwich

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I’m not sure why they don’t call themselves a vegan restaurant, but Erpingham House in Norwich bills itself as a high end plant-based restaurant and the menu does look impressive.

Set over three floors, Erpingham House was once a local Norwich steakhouse and has been renovated to a multi level, plant-based dining experience offering everything from cannabis coffee to cashew jackfruit korma.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwNVg6l6Oq/

The menu situation is too extensive and fabulous for me to unpack here, but I have pulled out some of the items that caught my attention:

  • Mushroom & chestnut Wellington or lentil polenta bake (GF) with roast potatoes, sage & onion stuffing, pan-fried greens & roast heritage vegetables, served with red wine gravy (Sunday dinner)
  • Avocado pesto linguine with Walnut, kale & avocado pesto, chestnut mushrooms and dressed rocket
  • Lahmacun pizza – stonebaked Turkish flatbread pizza, tomato sauce, grilled artichoke, smoked tomato and rocket
  • Raw chocolate caramel slice (GF) served with ice cream and topped with caramel sauce

You can see the full menus online here. They include a special menu for children and a cafe menu with breakfast items. Dinner is served seven days a week!

You can follow Erpingham House on Instagram.

See the exact location of this new mega restaurant thanks to Google Maps.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnoHjq7FOD9/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BngOn4Mgi8i/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmDEIP1jX2j/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnYjTIsgdk9/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnInVp0AtnW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnVpO1YA-nT/

The BagNut has landed in Sheffield

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Remember when I posted about my mate Dave at Make No Bones turning my dream into a menu item?

Quick recap:

I had a dream about a bagel filled with vegan bacon and cheese that was battered and deep fried. In my dream I named it the BagNut because it was a cross between a bagel and a donut.

Fast forward to right now and we are two days out from the BagNut being added to the weekend menu at Make No Bones in Sheffield.

Take a look at them below.

There is a savoury and a sweet NutBag launching this Saturday (September 22, 2018).

The savoury features bacon, cheese, tomato, and pickle in a dill batter while the sweet version has hazelnut chocolate in vanilla batter, served with crushed ginger biscuits, warm ganache, and sprinkles.

This is FGV dream invented food. You need it in your life!

Follow Make No Bones on Instagram.