Porridge with lentils? Vegan cafe... in a jail

IT IS not a place you would usually associate with fine dining.

But inmates at one of Scotland’s toughest prisons have been given permission to open a vegan restaurant.

The Yew Tree café and bistro, in the grounds of Perth Prison, will employ around 30 staff, made up of current prisoners and ex-offenders, operating as a café during the day and a fine dining restaurant in the evening.

The project, by charity Starting Step, was given the green light by Perth and Kinross Council last week.

Starting Step chief Dodie Piddock said: ‘The point is it gets people with a conviction out there and gets them jobs. It will perhaps eradicate some of the stigma attached to people who perhaps made a mistake in their lives.’

Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘Rehabilitation and ensuring prisoners are encouraged to learn new skills are essential parts of the justice system.

‘If this is to go ahead, victims will expect the jail to provide real evidence that this isn’t just giving inmates something to do, but is contributing to their rehabilitation for when they leave.’