vegan Hackney

Low waste low packaging store in London

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Re:Store is a packaging-free shop in Hackney where customers bring their own containers (or grab a spare one in store) to refill, to reduce use of unnecessary plastic!

The low waste store is located at Hackney Downs Studios, the place where we used to do Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

Customers can refill store cupboard and household essentials as well as some special treats.

Re:Store works with small, local producers and companies such as Kompassion Kombucha brewed in Hackney Wick and the’artyvegan fresh tofu made just across the road.

The store also has an exciting new addition in the form of a candle refill station from small business Every Origin. You can bring an old candle or jar and get it refilled with a new delicious smelling candle, with three options to choose from.

If you want to check out Re:Store AND have a fab night out, get along on Friday October 13, 2019 as Hackney Downs Studios celebrate the last night market of the year.

This version of the Night Market has been turned vegan by me and will include a bunch of vegan food traders plus Re:Store will be open until 9pm for all your refill needs, plus they’re adding some new vegan goodies so come along and be the first to try them!

Click here to read about the Vegan Night Market and be sure to follow Re:Store on Instagram.

Vegan night market in Hackney this September

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Come along for a rollicking night market with AMAZING vegan food on the site of the original mega vegan market.

Friday September 13, 2019 marks the final Night Market of the year at Hackney Downs Studios and I’m helping them turn the whole thing vegan!

For one night only, I’m working with the Studios to bring back a taste of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

Our traders announced so far include:

Update: sadly Arancini Brothers have pulled out at the last moment, but some good news about food is below:

Also expect cocktails, beer and wine (all vegan too!) to be flowing, brought to you by All Good Beer and El Garito.

On the night, you’ll also be able to explore on-site zero waste emporium Re:Store for environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced goodies, as they’re extending their opening hours just for the event. Bring your refillable containers!

You will also be able to check out Public Gallery‘s brand new exhibition ‘Echolocation’ by Charlotte Edey.

Entry to all of this is FREE, as usual.

You will also be able to visit the resident shops of Hackney Downs Vegan Market including Low Company record store, The London Loom, and The Well Garden and expect a vegan cheese tasting at Re:Store.

So much fun.

The Facebook event already has over 1,500 RSVPs so we expect this to be a big night. RSVP to the event now and invite friends.

The final Hackney Downs Studios night market of the year is taking place on Friday Septmeber 13, 2019 between 6pm and 11pm.

Click here to see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Vegan dinner at Black Cat Hackney

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Black Cat Hackney is one of the finest places to eat vegan food in the UK so you know you don’t want to miss out on their exclusive one-night-only Christmas supper club.

The exciting menu consists of a mix of classics and new items:

Starter (to choose from):

Caramelised cauliflower bisque topped with grilled seasonal mushrooms and served with garlic sourdough bread
OR
Wild mushroom croquette, whipped cashew chevre cheese, salt baked heritage beets, Hackney leaves and balsamic reduction

Main (to choose from):

House made seitan steaks, steamed seasonal greens, roast potatoes, lemon white wine shaved brussels sprouts, pastrami seasoned carrots and parsnips ribbons. Served with Black Cat’s gravy
OR
Blue corn crusted tofu cutlets, sweet potato and pumpkin mash, braised cabbage and roasted red pepper, Mexican chiles and peanut sauce

Desserts (to choose from):

Lemon thyme yoghurt cake, rhubarb compote, caramelised figs and coconut sour cream
OR
Peanut-butter chocolate cheesecake with bourbon biscuit base and salted candied nuts

The dinner is taking place at Black Cat on Clarence Road, Road on Saturday December 15, 2018.

Book now your tickets to spend this great evening with Black Cat. Choose from two time slots:

  • 6pm until 8pm sitting
  • 8:30pm until 10:30pm sitting

This event is BYOB meaning you are welcome to take your own drink.

You can also follow Black Cat on Instagram.

Hackney Downs Vegan Market looking for traders

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Hackney Downs Vegan Market is on the lookout for vegan cheese traders.

Are you a new vegan cheese producer looking to expand your business? Are you ready to take your products in front of the public?

Our weekly market has been the launching pad for many vegan cheese brands that have gone on to bigger and better things and now we are looking for tomorrow’s superstars.

Traders who have been featured at Hackney Downs Vegan Market over the past few years include I AM NUT OK (now stocked in Fortnum & Mason), Kinda Co (now working out of a professional kitchen), and Black Arts Vegan (about to launch their online store).

All of these traders will tell you that our local community market helped them establish public awareness of their brand while they developed and improved their products.

Hackney Downs Vegan Market is low cost for traders as we only charge a percentage of takings. We support and encourage traders who identify as women, non-white, disabled, and/or members of LGBTQI communities to apply as traders.

The market is currently on every Saturday and Sunday with winter hours of 11am until 4pm both days. We have market stalls for you to hire if needed.

If you are interested in coming on board as a vegan cheese trader to take your business up a notch, please email josh@fgvpr.co.uk to express your interest.

Extra note: joining our market is also a great way to build your social media following. As a trader you will be included in my social media announcements and market blog posts, reaching thousands of people each week.

London now has a vegan bottomless brunch

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Buffalo, the new vegan diner in London Fields (yes, Hackney!), is launching the Buffalo Bottomless Brunch this Saturday October 27, 2018 from midday.

For £25 diners will receive the Buffalo Breakfast of Champions and unlimited mimosas and beers.

The Champions Breakfast includes vegan sausages, scrambled tofu, smoky seitan bacon, mixed beans, avocado and fresh, locally-sourced sourdough.

And if for some reason you need drink choices other than bottomless mimosas, for an additional £10 you can enjoy unlimited margaritas and Bloody Marys!

Brunch tables are available from midday for two hour slots. Email info@buffalodiner.co.uk to reserve or simply send an Instagram message.

Extra news: Buffalo Vegan Diner is just a 30-minute walk from Hackney Downs Vegan Market, so take a leisurely stroll over to visit us after your bottomless brunch.

Deep fried vegan pizza pockets

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Hey, London.

You have a new vegan street food trader and I think you should be very excited about them. Say hello to Bar Dei Baci and their fried pizza!

The vegan frizza (fried pizza) from Bar DeirBaci looks incredible.

It is made fresh on the market stall and comes in a range of flavours. The mac n cheese frizza has already proven to be a sensation and is selling out at appearances all around London.

If you haven’t been fortunate enough to get your hands on some frizza yet, your chance is coming up.

Bar Dei Baci is trading at Hackney Downs Vegan Market this Sunday October 14, 2018 for the first time ever. Come along after 11am for a taste of food heaven.

You can see the full Sunday line up online here and follow Bar Dei Baci on Instagram.

Extra market news: get along to the Sunday market for 3 for the price of 2 on New Roots award-winning vegan cheese. This is a rare opportunity to save some cash on one of the best vegan cheese ranges on the planet.

Vegan fish and chip shop opens in London

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Sutton & Sons, the family run chippy, is launching London’s first stand-alone vegan fish & chip shop.

Opening at 240 Graham Road from 4th October, 2018, the restaurant will serve its signature vegan fish and chips made from banana blossom. A bespoke menu of gourmet vegan fast food dishes, desserts and soft and alcoholic drinks will also be available.

Danny Sutton, owner of Sutton & Sons said, “We’ve been completely gob smacked by the popularity of our vegan menu. People have visited us from all over the country, just to try our take on vegan fish. We didn’t have space in the Hackney branch like at Stoke Newington and Essex Road to provide the vegan menu, so we are chuffed to now provide a space dedicated to our new vegan customers.”

Sample menu:

(Prices the same for eat-in or takeaway)

  • Fish & chips £7.50
  • Fish burger £6.00
  • Battered sausage & chips £5.50
  • Prawn cocktail £5.50
  • Scampi and chips £6.00
  • Pie and mash £7.50

They have even created vegan friendly homemade tartare sauce for your dipping needs.

After successfully trialling different vegan options in January, Sutton & Sons previously rolled out a vegan menu in Stoke Newington & Essex Road branches. The vegan fish was so successful they sold out in the first week of the menu becoming full time.

You can follow the vegan Sutton & Sons on Instagram.

You can click here to see the exact location of the new vegan chippy thanks to Google Maps. It is just around the corner from Temple of Hackney, a 100% vegan owned and operated food business run by Temple of Seitan.

The new vegan Sutton & Sons is just a 20-minute walk from Hackney Downs Vegan Market, which is now on every Saturday and Sunday.

Style yourself sustainable event in London

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Here is a super quick note about a sustainable fashion event taking place in the same location as Hackney Downs Vegan Market on Saturday September 22, 2018.

Style Yourself Sustainable is an event bringing together vintage clothing and eco brand pop-ups in one space, alongside talks such as ‘Wear the walk’ and a panel of eco minded brands for you to ask questions.

There will be sewing workshops with Kate from Time to Sew (check out additional tickets) and t-shirt re-fashioning session with Oonagh.

In addition to all of the above, there will also be a swap shop where (for free) you can swap something that you are not that in love with anymore for something that you do love!

Sustainable fashion AND a vegan market in one spot. Get involved!

Click here to book your free ticket.

FGV all over London

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In case you have missed the news, Fat Gay Vegan is a London wide concern these days!

I have so much market news and am thrilled to announce that you can now eat and shop in Hackney all weekend long as Hackney Downs Vegan Market becomes a Saturday AND Sunday market.

In addition, I am launching Fat Gay Vegan at Venn Street which is our own weekly Saturday vegan market alongside the traditional Venn Street Market.

This is all kicking off from Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September, 2018.

You can RSVP to the Facebook events for Hackney Downs Vegan Market and Fat Gay Vegan at Venn Street.

You can see the full trader line up for all markets online here.

Yay for vegan markets! Yay for independent vegan business!

Vegan restaurant gets a new London location

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A short while ago I posted about a new vegan restaurant on Brick Lane called Buffalo.

The food got some great reviews but they shut up shop pretty soon after opening. The location was not suitable for some reason but all is not lost.

I just had word that Buffalo is re-opening in Hackney!

This is what founder Stephen had to say to me:

Buffalo’s re-opening will be early October 2018! We have the lease for 6 months which hopefully will become permanent. The menu is expanding to include our burgers, extended list of homemade sauces and toppings, extra options for fries, and a new tapas menu. We are taking over the space recently used by The Brook Social.

Great news!

You can follow Buffalo on Instagram.