vegan UK

Hackney Downs is HUGE

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This is a post to say thank you to all the traders and attendees who made this past Saturday at Hackney Downs Vegan Market such a huge success.

The winter months have been tough work for our traders who have been down there week after week. There was only one week where the ice was too treacherous to go ahead.

Our loyal customers have been wonderful and crucial when it comes to keeping the market vibrant. Even on some of the coldest days, people came from all over the city and even further afield to have fun and support independent business.

This past weekend was like a huge celebration with sunshine and warm, dry weather. Our traders who have been shivering through the cold finally got to enjoy a bright day and some had their busiest trading day ever.

Hackney Downs Vegan Market is more than just somewhere to get good food.

It is a collaborative approach to community and business, taking into consideration how we all need to be more inclusive and aware of diverse needs. Our market does the following:

  • The pitch fees we pay Hackney Downs Studios help keep their vibrant art and creation spaces affordable for resident artists.
  • Our independent traders have started to find a way to turn their passion into a living, with some using our market as a springboard to go onto bigger and better things such as opening their own shops.
  • The market helps keep money in the local community by giving trading space to local people.
  • We are actively challenging oppression by making spaces available for women traders, non-white traders, traders from LGBTQ+ communities, and disabled traders.

When you attend this market, you are making a difference.

I really can’t thank you all enough for making this ‘vegan-run event for vegans’ such a rewarding community space. Our message is to stop animal suffering and we try to do it while being kind to humans.

We have also organised Queer Vegan Yoga to take place on the first Saturday of the month inside The Well Garden, the onsite yoga studio. This is body positive yoga led by a queer vegan teacher. We have created this for people who feel locked out of yoga classes for any number of reasons. Click here to see the dates and book.

We have some other exciting developments coming up for the market, so stay tuned. RSVPing to the Hackney Downs Vegan Market Facebook event page is a great way to see news or follow me on my FGV Instagram account.

Extra note: Hackney Downs Vegan Market will not be taking place on Saturday July 14, 2018 due to the site being used for our 6th annual London Vegan Beer Fest. This is a ticketed event so if you would love to be a part of our big party, book early bird tickets online now.

Now, let’s enjoy some photos from last weekend!

Another vegan potluck event

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A few weeks ago, a lot of people enjoyed a vegan potluck event in London.

Anna and Amy took over Jaz & Jul’s Chocolate House near Angel for a collaborative food event. A bunch of people shared homemade food and had such a wonderful time, they are doing it all again on May 5, 2018.

This Saturday afternoon food club will run from 4pm until 7pm.

You need to book tickets in order to participate, so click here to book now.

You can also RSVP via the Facebook event.

Share food. Make friends. Get involved!

Build a vegan chocolate factory

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Here is your chance to feel like Willy Wonka.

So Sweet Couture Chocolate is a manufacturer of gorgeous vegan chocolate and they need help to take the next step in their growth by opening a chocolate factory.

The company already has premises in Pembrokeshire, Wales and now needs the help of the vegan community to get everything ready to roll.

So Sweet Couture Chocolate isn’t just asking for your money, they also have a great line up of chocolate rewards for those willing and able to help fund their factory expansion.

Check out these rewards:

  • £15 gets you 3 of their best selling chocolate bars
  • £25 gets you 3 of the TOP SECRET new flavour chocolate bar
  • £35 gets you a chocolate tool kit (because they are building!)
  • £50 gets you a chocolate lover’s hamper
  • £100 gets your name on the factory wall PLUS a special chocolate delivery
  • £250 gets you a chocolate making experience in the factory for two people

The family owned company needs your support with the following:

  • New Doors (the old ones leak)
  • Stainless steel tables
  • New commercial equipment (they even need the kitchen sink)
  • New materials to furnish their on site shop
  • New packaging and chocolate moulds

Buying some of their delicious treats by way of donation is going to help So Sweet Couture Chocolate realise their dreams while staying away from a pesky bank loan.

Click here to donate now and claim your reward!

You can also follow So Sweet on Instagram.

The return of Queer Vegan Yoga

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Queer Vegan Yoga enjoyed a fabulous debut a few weeks ago at The Well Garden located at Hackney Downs Studios, the home of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

Tatum lead an incredible yoga class that was inclusive, friendly, and welcoming to all.

And now it is back!

You can now book your spot for this affordable and progressive yoga class for dates in May, June, July and August 2018.

The dates and times for the next four months are:

This class is for anyone who feels locked out of yoga classes. It is inclusive. It is for members of LGBT+ communities. It is body positive. We have a queer, vegan teacher.

Enjoy exploring yoga AND the best vegan food market on the same day!

Club Mexicana at Spread Eagle

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A few months ago I posted abut new vegan venue, The Spread Eagle.

This 100% vegan pub in Homerton, east London has been blowing people away with not only their gorgeous selection of cocktails and drinks, but also the NEXT LEVEL food coming out of the pub’s kitchen thanks to Club Mexicana.

Looking at the photos below makes me a little emotional.

I can remember going to one of the first ever Club Mexicana pop up events many years ago at Black Cat Cafe and to see the progress the business has made is startling.

Superstar business owner and devoted vegan badass Meriel has made Club Mexicana one of the most recognisable and adored food providers in London. She has cemented her brand as a recognised signpost for taste and quality. She has inspired dozens of traders to play catch up with her branding and market positioning. She is recognised by non-vegan organisers as one of our business leaders.

Before you drool over some of these exclusive food photos from inside The Spread Eagle, please take a moment to follow Club Mexicana on Instagram.

You can also follow The Spread Eagle on Instagram and see the pub’s exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Vegan cafe in Bradford

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This blog post started life thanks to my partner Josh saying to me, “Hey, there is a new vegan cafe in Bradford and the menu looks amazing”.

So, I’m here to tell you about The Willow Tree Cafe located in Saltaire, Bradford but I thought it would also be amusing to give you an insight into how a short blog post like this can take me more than an hour to put together.

Following on from Josh’s statement, I felt it was my duty to at least understand where exactly Saltaire is positioned on a map. This task also found me comparing distances from Saltaire to major cities and towns in the region. I discovered that Saltaire is twice the driving distance from Manchester as it is from Leeds.

Once I was satisfied that I could place Saltaire geographically, I decided that it would be nice to know a little bit of history. I soon found myself wrapped up in the life and times of the mill and the town’s namesake, Sir Titus Salt. Yep, his name was joined with the River Aire to form the town’s name.

I am now obsessed with the fact that Saltaire is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town was built as a Victorian model village in 1851 and all of the buildings are now protected.

This is how ridiculous writing one single blog post can be for me… and I do this every single day of the year!

Because I am now in love with Saltaire, I’m even more thrilled to know about The Willow Tree Cafe situated on Fairfield Road.

The menu is absolutely stunning and I’m particularly impressed by the Sunday roast consisting of seitan beef, roasties, maple roasted root veg, greens, Yorkshire pudding, and lashings of homemade beef style gravy.

Do yourself a massive favour and get in for some tasty comfort food.

Follow The Willow Tree Cafe on Instagram and Facebook. See their exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Now, do you wanna see some vegan food being served up in a UNESCO World Heritage Site village?

Event for people caring for vegan children

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The fab team behind Made in Hackney have organised a very special information evening for people caring for children within a vegan framework.

Trying to bring up a child as a vegan means clashes with family, friends and even strangers can occur.

“Are you sure they are getting enough nutrition?”, “What about calcium?”, “You shouldn’t force your beliefs on your kids.” And so it goes on…

This event is a supportive space to share stories, ask questions, learn from others and get expert advice from a nutritionist about what we need to consider when raising our children vegan.

Vegan families and bringing up vegan children is taking place at 10 Cable Street in central London on Wednesday April 25, 2018.

What has the night got in store?

  • 19:00 Introduction to the evening.
  • 19:05 Talk by Sarah Oboh of NutriLife covering essential nutrition for children
  • 19:25 Demonstration by Juddian Oboh of NutriLife on simple nutritious snacks that can be made to boost your child’s health.
  • 19:45 – 21:15 Panel discussion with Sarah Bentley, NutriLife and Deepa Devlukia of GirlBoyFoodBaby on family issues, nurseries, parties, social things and educate kids about changes
  • 21:15-21:30 Networking

All profits from this event will be donated to Made in Hackney.

Click here to book your ticket.

Yorkshire brewery headed to London

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London Vegan Beer Fest is coming back for a sixth year in a row and we have lots of lovely surprises planned for Saturday July 14, 2018.

All the news will roll out over the next few months, but the first big announcement is all about Brass Castle.

Superstar vegan brewery Brass Castle of Yorkshire is returning for a second year in a row to run a huge, indoor beer hall at the London event.

They will be once again taking over the Hackney Showroom with a multi-tap bar while we have some exclusive food traders in the back alley.

Add to this our outdoor beer and street food market and London Vegan Beer fest is going to be a HUGE day out.

Early bird tickets are already on sale and are almost 20% gone. Buy here.

Follow Brass Castle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Vegan cafe and bar in Birmingham

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Do you know about Natural Bar and Kitchen in Birmingham, UK?

This fully vegan cafe and restaurant is also the only vegan bar in Birmingham! They serve vegan wine, beer, prosecco and soon gin and cocktails, too!

I love the sound of this place!

It gets even more fab when you discover Natural Bar and Kitchen is also hosting live music events.

Get along in April 2018 to experience the new menu which will run alongside the usual buffet style (pay by weight) food that they offer.

Not impressed yet?

Natural Bar and Kitchen also serves up:

  • Brunch on Saturday and Sunday 9:00am – 11:30am
  • Tofu fish and chip Fridays
  • A jazzisundays event starting on 15th April
  • Blues, Booze and Burger nights

You need to follow Natural Bar and Kitchen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Now, some photos.

New vegan menu for Spring

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I adore Cafe Van Gogh.

This south London cafe on Brixton Road is one of my favourite places to eat when I’m in the city.

The comfort food is stunning while the portions are generous and the ethos underpinning the restaurant makes it even more appealing.

Cafe Van Gogh is not for profit and is geared towards employing and advancing the careers of young people who struggle to find meaningful and supportive catering employment. It isn’t just a place to eat. It is also a way to contribute positively to your community.

OK. So I love the place.

I’m here today to share the new springtime menu that has just been launched by Cafe Van Gogh.

The food sounds absolutely stunning. Get along as soon as you can and be sure to follow the cafe on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.