Best places in the city to dine this Veganuary
Whether you’re planning to ditch eating meat and dairy products for good this year or just fancy a change, Nottingham has plenty of vegan restaurants, delis and shops to discover. LYNETTE PINCHESS gets the lowdown on the city’s top spots
THE number of people giving up meat and dairy has rocketed and as demand soars, and so has the number of vegan cafes, restaurants and shops in Nottingham.
According to a new Veganuary poll conducted by Yougov, the organisation behind the month-long challenge, more than a third of people in the UK are interested in becoming vegan.
More than 580,000 people from 200 countries around the world signed up for 2021 campaign to ditch meat, fish and dairy for 31 days.
The number taking the pledge this January has yet to be disclosed but spokeswoman Dr Toni Vernelli said: “We are expecting to hit a huge milestone this January with a total of more than two million sign-ups since our campaign began in 2014.
“We survey all of our participants at the end of their one month pledge and, in 2021, 40 percent of participants said they intended to stay vegan. Of those who didn’t plan to stay fully vegan, 75 percent said they intended to cut their animal product consumption by at least 50 percent.”
Here’s the lowdown on the best spots for vegans in Nottingham:
No. Twelve
Going vegan doesn’t mean having to give up a beautiful ambience, topclass food and service to match.
Hidden gem No. Twelve is an award-winning restaurant with a menu of inventive and imaginative dining in a former redbrick mill.
Lunch and dinner is served, and occasionally there are special tasting menus too.
Platters of faux Stilton, Brie and Cheddar and faux meat, such as prosciutto and salami are served.
Sharing plates include glazed teriyaki tofu skewer, topped with spring onion and crispy onion with a garlic and chilli dip and Garden Verrine, layers of pea mousse, pea and lovage salsa and garden herb cream, finished with smoked pangrattato breadcrumbs.
And there’s no missing out on desserts, such as chocolate and sea salt ganache with passionfruit ice cream or pistachio sponge with lemon gel and Italian meringue.
And like any fine dining restaurant, there’s petit fours to end with in flavours such as sour cherry, mandarin and bonfire toffee.
You say: “A beautiful restaurant. Wonderful food, lovely casual romantic atmosphere, and very friendly helpful staff. The miso leeks and artichokes are a must have.”
■■ Eldon Chambers, Wheeler Gate, Nottingham NG1 2NS
Prickly Pear
Breakfast, coffee and cake or lunch, healthy or junk food – Prickly Pear hits the spot.
The licensed cafe’s colourful, tasty burgers, burritos and salads are proving popular with customers.
The Big Breakfast comes with toast, scramble, home fries, spiced black beans, guacamole, fresh salsa, sausages, chipotle mayo – more inventive than sausage, beans and hash browns said one visitor, who described staff as friendly, chilled and dedicated.
The only difficultly what to have.
The tacos, mac and cheese and Biscoff millionaire shortbread all get the thumbs up.
You say: “Absolutely sensational! Cute little cafe just a short walk from the city centre. A little bit of a wait for food because it’s a very small team and kitchen, but absolutely worth the wait for fresh delicious food and sweet service.
“Great for a chilled, cosy long lunch with coffee and cake.”
■■ 127 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FQ
No Homers
Vegan food with a big helping of The Simpsons is served up at the new plant-based Irish-style deli which opened in Nottingham city centre at the beginning of December.
Owner and The Simpsons fan
Huw Longman has themed the shop, in King Street, around Homer and co.
Ideal for breakfast on the go or a lunchtime sandwich – plus the deli counter has sliced “meats” replicating pastrami, turkey, ham and bacon named after characters from The Simpsons – among them Professor Frink, Fat Toni and Chief Wiggum.
To help anyone attempting Veganuary, No Homers has created a starter box with four different deli slices and a sandwich filling of your choice, plus 10 percent off all products in store when you show your Veganuary email pledge.
Mr Longman said: “Making a change to a plant-based/vegan diet has never been easier with the amount of options available but we want to make it even easier.
“We have over decades of vegan experience between the team and are here to help answer your questions or concerns.
“It doesn’t matter if you are thinking of changing your diet for health, the environment or the animals, what ever your reason we are here to help and support you.
“Please support small independent businesses like us this Veganuary, every purchase makes a huge difference to us.”
You say: “Absolutely amazing place - super friendly staff and awesome food, we love the food ‘to go’ as well as the deli ‘meats’ that we use in sandwiches at home. So much better than supermarket-bought stuff. Also as a lifelong Simpsons enthusiast I truly appreciate the decor and product names. Keep it up folks!”
■■ 26 King Street, Nottingham NG1 2AS
Feed Me Fully Loaded
It has always been the owners’ goal to create food with theatrics which they recently achieved with a Hogwarts’ afternoon tea with pumpkin pasties, scones with butterbeer cream and a chocolate frog.
Themed around the musical Little Shop of Horrors, the cafe in Beeston Rylands is colourful and fun, just like the vegan junk food served here.
Choose from breakfast pancakes named after Willy Wonka characters or bagels with a Dr Seuss theme.
Vegan hot dogs, salad and fries loaded with mac n cheese or pizzastyle toppings make up the main menu. Feeling snacky? There’s sandwiches, cheese sticks and decadent dessert like Mud Pie and Banana Split. As well as being able to eat in, the cafe offers a takeaway service.
You say: “Such a hidden gem. Outside parking, inside seating, great food, big portions, great prices. Highly recommend a visit. Can’t wait to go back.”
■■ 56 Lilac Crescent, Rylands, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1PX
The Filthy Vegan
Fresh from a stint at Nottingham’s Christmas Market in Old Market Square, the Filthy Vegan has built up an enormous following since launching three years ago.
It’s best known for the “dirty” kebab for the health conscious – soya meat, with a secret seasoning, salad, sriracha sauce and mayo served on a naan bread – which has been named one of the best vegan kebabs in the UK.
The duo behind the takeaway Joe Johnson and James Freeman started out working from home before going on to become one of Nottingham’s best known delivery services, operating from the Marcus Garvey Business Park in Lenton.
The only way to order is through the Filthy Vegan app, which covers delivery in the NG1 to NG15 postcode areas.
You say: “I eat from the Filthy Vegan about once or twice a month and both me and my partner love it. Proper filthy vegan food which is exactly what we want and that’s why we keep going back!”
Delivery only
Crocus Cafe
The vegan and veggie food served at the cosy cafe is described by regulars as tasty and imaginative, while the surroundings are laid back and the staff friendly.
Nottingham’s oldest community cafe is not-for-profit which makes its food very affordable. As well as all day breakfast and lunchtime soup, sarnies and salad, the cafe also offers dinner Thursday to Saturday, with a different theme each week.
Mexican, Italian, Indian, Greek and Iranian and sushi menus are some of the cuisines recently celebrated.
You say: “Love this place, great food, low prices and lovely staff plus it does so much good work for the community. All that and you can take your dog with you too and they get water and treats. Wish I could give them more stars.”
18 Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 2ES
The V Spot
All your vegan needs are covered by the shop, from food to body care and household products to clothing.
You’ll find a wealth of animal-free products that are also kind to the environment, such as refillable detergent, soap, shampoo and conditioner.
It’s just over a year ago since the shop moved to bigger premises and just before Christmas reported its busiest ever day.
Foodwise, there’s everything you could possibly think of just like any other supermarket but it’s all vegan: baby food, cheese, yoghurt, meat substitutes, cakes, sausage rolls, Yorkshire puddings, snacks, ice cream and pizza.
Shop in person or online. There’s plenty of help if you’re new to Veganuary, with this message to customers: “We are the largest vegan shop in the area with a wide range of products. Our friendly and experienced staff members are happy to answer your questions. We have loads of special offers available during January.”
You say: “Great range of products. Some lovely fresh made items too. Love the bigger shop, really pleased to be able to get refills on my cleaning products. Staff are amazing too.”
515 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2JL
Cafe Roya
Vegan food isn’t a lettuce-leaf diet. Just take a look at this hearty boozy suet pudding with steaming hot miso mash and charred vegetables.
Vegan foodies love Cafe Roya’s dishes such as chestnut soup with mace bay cream, “parmesan” doughnut rolled in porcini dust, frozen pear shavings and Sri Lankan aubergine, potato and tomato biryani.
A number of veggie main courses and desserts can be adapted to remove the dairy elements and make them vegan-friendly.
Well worth a trip out to the 40-seater restaurant in Beeston for the colourful food, where Persian and Indian herbs and spices maximise the flavour.
You say: “Cafe Roya is my favourite e restaurant I’ve ever been to on this earth! My husband is from Beeston and whenever we are in town visiting family we make it a point to eat at Cafe Roya. The staff is so friendly and the food is absolutely divine. A perfect place for a romantic dinner for a vegan and their vegetarian husband.”
130 Wollaton Road, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 2PE
Faux
Run by the same couple as No. Twelve, the artisan vegan butcher’s shop and deli has welcomed countless meat-eaters who want to make a “little change” to their diet.
Ritchie Stainsby, who owns the business with partner Lauren Nally, says: “Both Lauren and I enjoy the taste and texture of meat, we just don’t agree with how it arrives on our plates. For this reason, if we can create cruelty-free food that still ticks a box for a craving of something meaty in both taste and texture then it can only be for the greater good.”
Products include sticky brisket, cured pastrami, black pudding and glazed pork belly and artisan sandwiches filled with faux roast beef with Honestly Tasty blue cheese, onion and tomato and faux pastrami with red slaw.
You say: “Popped in for something to set me up for the day after not having time for breakfast at home. The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable. I chose a bacon, brie and cranberry bagel with a oat milk latte and wafer bar, which all came as a meal deal for £7.
608 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2FS
13th Element
After starting out as a burger takeaway at Nottingham Street Food Club, 13th Element’s following has gone from strength to strength. So much so, founder Liam Russell is on the verge of opening his restaurant very soon. Liam switched to a plantbased diet following his dad’s death from heart disease in 2012 and he’s never looked back.
The restaurant will specialise in burgers, small plates and sides such as korn ribs, chick’n’ tenders, truffle fries and jerk chick’n loaded fries.
You say: “THE best burgers and fries ever, the food is fresh, hot and delicious every time we order. The chicken tenders are to die for and the loaded fries are epic, my personal favourite are the truffle loaded fries. The burgers are cooked to perfection and the best both myself and my partner have had.”
101 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 1FE
The Dice Cup
The vegan menu is just half of the story.
This venue is also a gaming cafe. Role play games, card games, board games are available with more than 900 to choose from.
Coffee, vegan sausage rolls, and cakes are on sale and a new oven makes pizzas even faster than ever topped with vegan ‘meat’ from No Homers.
Staff are friendly and go out of their way to be helpful.
You say: “Great place, lovely staff, good prices and range of products. Try the paninis, very tasty, plus a good sized portion of chips for £2. Weekly tournaments are always fun and a visit here is recommended.”
■■68-70 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3GY