A gay-friendly pub with a no music policy and vegan booze? Welcome to The Old Red Lion, friends.
**UPDATE BELOW**
Queer and vegan friendly pub
Tucked away in a dim corner of the Leeds city centre is a pub with charm, grime, unique characters and cruelty-free alcohol. The Old Red Lion is a well-worn drinking hole branded by the Samuel Smith Brewery. If you are up to date with your FGV reading, you will know Sam Smith are responsible for some of the most delicious vegan cider, lager, ale and cherry beer you will ever guzzle. Add to this scenario a distinct lack of music, wallpaper torn and drooping, rough but friendly punters and truly hilarious conversations and you have the wondrous world of The Old Red Lion. I get giddy whenever the burly bartender calls me love as he pulls another pint of vegan cider for me.
I’m in a quandary, dear viewers. It is tearing me apart. Do I love cherry, strawberry or raspberry beer the best?
Vegan fruit beer... strawberry, cherry and raspberry
Regular visitors to the Haus of FGV will be all too familiar with the relationship I am fostering with the good folk up in Tadcaster known as the Samuel Smith Brewery. These traditional ale, lager, cider and beer producers have been turning out the liquid good stuff since approximately 1758. They are the last remaining independent brewery in the town of Tadcaster and the majority of what they create is suitable for vegans.
You will often find me frittering away an afternoon in one of the 300 or so Samuel Smith pubs scattered around the UK. Give me a pint of Cider Reserve and my woes are temporarily dismissed… and I’m rather pleasant company.
During the course of my FGV existence, I have consumed food in many countries and across several continents. I consider myself quite the connoisseur when it comes to vegan cuisine. You should seriously consider these self-proclaimed credentials as you ponder my recommendation that you head to 222 Veggie Vegan at your earliest convenience.
Interior of 222 Veggie Vegan
This unassuming eatery is nestled on North End Road in West Kensington, London. It offers an all-you-can-eat buffet during the day and an a la carte menu in the evenings. The food is healthy, hot and incredibly tasty.
My visit took place on a Sunday afternoon which meant I could serve myself from the hot buffet and I could serve myself from the hot buffet and I
I recently discovered something that is drastically changing my drinking habits. Most people I know would consider me a moderate to heavy drinker. The arrival of Brothers ciders into my life is pushing me ever closer to the more extreme end of that spectrum. This range of refreshing beverages is suitable for vegan drinkers as … Read more
For the most part, I don’t have trouble following a plant-based diet. The UK enjoys an incredibly-wide array of products found in supermarkets and health food stores.
There is, however, one area of consumption where I sometimes struggle to have my demand met… and that is booze. I love a drink. Beer and whiskey and wine. Tick ‘all of the above’ please. But I endure the (almost daily) struggle of finding clearly-labeled vegan alcohol. Animal products are often used in the production of drinks and not all companies and establishments responsible for my lack of sobriety are up to speed with letting me know if they are selling animal-free liqour.
But never fear. Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery in Tadcaster, Yorkshire has come to my rescue. This independent brewery has been turning out delectable thirst-quenchers since 1758. They clearly understand what makes a drink vegan and I have fallen in love with their Cider Reserve. Samuel Smith is served only in Samuel Smith pubs. In an attempt to remain fiercely independent, these branded pubs only serve Sam Smith items and maintain a music-free environment as a protest to public performance royalties.
I recently enjoyed several pints of Cider Reserve with friends in a lovely Sam Smith pub located in Tower Bridge, London. The Anchor Tap (located on Horselydown Lane) is a gem from another era. Low ceilings and goblin-sized doorways frame cosy rooms where you can relax with incredibly-inexpensive drinks. London can be slightly overwhelming, but the Anchor Tap and Samuel Smith put it all in perspective.
