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 video from New Roots

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One of the most exciting things about the growth of veganism is watching all the cute and clever adverts being developed in order to sell plant-based products.

Oatly has been making a big splash with their ‘it’s like milk but made for humans’ billboards around the UK and now superstar vegan cheese brand New Roots has launched this irreverent live action advert.

Click play below.

The advertising spot works on a few levels but is most engaging in the way it positions the brand as a leading force in shaping the future.

Posted under the advert on Facebook are the following phrases:

Switzerland is the home of cheese. New Roots creates the traditions of the future. Because ethics matter.

It is so well done.

It plays on established and entrenched ideas about food authenticity and suggests that the brand is leading through innovation, while not forgetting to anchor the message with an ethical underpinning.

And it is kooky, fun, and engaging.

I believe ads such as this are a powerful tool in our fight to improve outcomes for non-human animals.

You can follow New Roots Vegan Cheese on Instagram and Facebook.

Vegan pop up supper club in Maidstone

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Dear Maidstone.

You have a very special event coming up and I think you should book tickets now.

My dear friend Steph of Ponga Foods is an extremely talented vegan (and gluten free!) chef and she is about to launch a series of pop up food events in Maidstone, UK.

The big launch is a glorious meal taking place on Sunday December 2, 2018 at Baskervilles Coffee House.

Look at this menu:

If you have tried Steph’s food in the past, you will know how sensational it is.

If you are a Ponga newbie, this is your chance to be initiated in style.

Click here to read more about the event and book tickets.

Follow Ponga Foods on Facebook and Instagram to get news of upcoming supper clubs.

FGV is now verified

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Here is a super short post to tell you two things:

  1. I have a fab Instagram account that you might like to follow
  2. My Instagram account has just been verified and now sports a super smart blue tick

Yep, it’s official.

There is only one FGV!

My Instagram account is the perfect place to see the latest news from my vegan markets, keep updated on my food adventures in the UK and Mexico, plus see the occasional drunken story from when I venture out to trashy gay bars.

What’s not to love?!

You can follow me on Instagram and check out some recent posts below.

Fundraiser for vegan business in UK

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Launched late 2017 by partners Liam and Tilly, Seitan’s Grill is known for being a vegan catering company producing handmade sustainable faux meats.

Liam and Tilly have launched a Kickstarter campaign in order to create a new kitchen space to develop recipes and service the local public.

They are ready to take Seitan’s Grill to the next level.

For the last 14 months the business has been home based within their kitchen, producing everything they sell. Growing organically has been steady but they want to reach more people, produce more products and ultimately provide quality handmade vegan produce to the masses.

They need your support to help fit their commercial production kitchen, featuring a hatch for serving locals.

You can click here to check out the fundraising campaign and see the rewards on offer for backers.

You can follow Seitan’s Grill on Instagram.

That Sloppy Vegan supper club

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South London. Are you ready to get sloppy?

If you’re interested in an evening of hearty, wholesome, and fresh food served in an informal, soulful space you are in luck.

That Sloppy Vegan has crafted a menu that fuses Indian and European styles for her FIRST EVER supper club. The freshest ingredients and flavours will be combined to create four courses of hearty, vibrant food.

WHAT:
4 courses of fresh, delicious, Indian-fusion food cooked by That Sloppy Vegan (that name though!!!!!!).

WHEN:
5th December, 2018 – 7pm until 10pm

WHERE:
Eleven, Balham, 5 Fernlea Road, SW12 9RT (only a 2-minute walk from Balham Station)

TICKETS:
£35 for four courses and a drink. Click here to book.

Join That Sloppy Vegan for what is set to be a gorgeous night of tasty food and socialising.

You can also follow That Sloppy Vegan on Instagram.

Massive vegan chocolate Santa giveaway

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Do you like vegan chocolate? How about FREE vegan chocolate? How about free vegan chocolate in the shape of Santa?!

The wonderful people at Moo Free Chocolates have given us 200 chocolate Santas to giveaway at Hackney Downs Vegan Market this Saturday and Sunday (November 24 and 25, 2018).

There will be 100 vegan chocolate Santas given away for free each day!

These organic chocolate Santa bars are always a favourite at this time of year, alongside the Moo Free advent calendars which have been known to completely sell out across the UK.

Moo Free Chocolates just won the Best Vegan Chocolate category at the VegFestUK Awards so they are excited to share their award-winning chocolate with our market visitors.

Hackney Downs Vegan Market starts trading at 11am on both Saturday and Sunday, so please arrive early if you would like to get your hands on a Santa. Only one per person until they run out.

Two of our fabulous traders are taking charge of the giveaway so this is who you need to say hello to in order to collect your free chocolate:

  • Saturday – Vegan Delice – our superstar resident baker with cupcakes and hot donuts
  • Sunday – Pason’s Pots – our regular baby food maker selling locally made food for young people!

If you would like to see the full range by Moo Free Chocolates, please visit their website and be sure to follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Moo Free Chocolates can be purchased in stores everywhere including supermarkets, health food stores, and independent vegan shops.

See full Hackney Downs Vegan Market details and trader line up for Saturday and Sunday online here.

The prettiest vegan tacos on the planet

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Mexico City is one of the most exciting vegan destinations on the planet and the relaunched La Pitahaya takes it to yet another level.

The gorgeous Mexican eatery has taken up a new home near the corner of Querétaro and Orizaba in the Roma Norte neighbourhood of the capital.

Every single item on the La Pitahaya menu is fresh and delicious.

La Pitahaya is known for the ridiculously pretty pink tortillas made in house and cooked fresh to order. They use these tortillas across a range of traditional dishes including enfrojiladas and tacos.

Check out the photos from my recent visit below, see the exact location of the restaurant online thanks to Google Maps, and follow La Pitahaya on Instagram.

Extra note: the non-vegan ice cream store next door to La Pitahaya offers several vegan flavours by the scoop. I enjoyed the coconut and chocolate ice creams following my meal.

Help a vegan business in London

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Got any spare cash?

Picky Wops is a much adored pizza business in London that is currently experiencing severe upheaval and they require community support.

Due to a series of bad experiences that include closing their Fulham branch, Picky Wops is looking for a new home. As you know, London is a brutal place to do business and that becomes infinitely more difficult when you are an independent vegan business.

Picky Wops are trying to raise £60,000 to secure a new restaurant location so they have turned to the goodwill of their vegan community.

If you can afford to spare some cash, please click here to donate.

There are some fantastic rewards on offer including pizza making classes and private catering from the founders.

You can also follow Picky Wops on Instagram.

City Vegan Lunch Market Christmas Edition

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Remember when we took over Guildhall in the City of London with our enormous City Vegan Lunch Market in the summer?

Well, guess what is back just in time for Christmas?!

Fat Gay Vegan (that’s me) is proud to announce City Vegan Lunch Market – Christmas Edition taking place on Friday December 21, 2018 between 11am and 2:30pm on Guildhall Yard.

We are showcasing one of the finest collection of vegan street food traders in the financial heart of London.

The line up for the day includes:

Hot food

  • Rupert’s Street – nutritious and delicious comfort food from the yellow van
  • The Green Grill – burgers, dogs, and comfort food
  • What The Fattoush – plant-based Palestinian street food
  • Cafe SoVegan – seitan wraps and mac n cheese
  • Red Tent Ethiopian – delicious and nutritious stews, curries, and more
  • Vausages – loaded gourmet hot dogs
  • The Nooch – burgers, sandwiches, and nachos!
  • Picky Wops – handcrafted gourmet pizza cooked fresh on site
  • Vegan Earthlings – vegan comfort food including sumptuous curries

Take home cheese

  • Nutkin – nut based cheeses that are current Venn Street faves
  • I AM NUT OK – gourmet artisan cheese taking the UK by storm

Cakes and treats

  • Vegan Delice – our resident superstar bakery at Hackney Downs with sweet treats to make you smile

Gift ideas including candles

Drinks

  • Clarkshaws – our resident brewery at Hackney Downs with refreshing brews to drink on site or take home

More traders to be announced soon. Line up subject to change.

You can RSVP and invite friends over on the Facebook event page.

Extra Xmas news: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23, 2018 will see us hosting a special Christmas version of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.