Turning over a new leaf with vegan cafe

Hospitality: Businessman sets up first eatery of its kind in city

An entrepreneur is opening a new vegan cafe in Inverness city centre later this month.

The Alley Cat Cafe on Inglis Street – previously the Wild Gorse Studio – is the idea of Andrew Barnett, who claimed it will be the Highland capital’s first 100% vegan eatery.

Mr Barnett, 32, is behind the JVNK pop-up cafe, based at Blend Tea & Coffee Merchants on Drummond Street, and local fairs.

He said: “We hope to offer something different. Something that people wouldn’t necessarily eat at home.

“The world of restaurants is really changing; people now have such varied diets.

“For vegans we’re selling nostalgia. For omnivores, we’re selling an easy alternative.”

JVNK has amassed a loyal following with Mr Barnett becoming known for his innovative take on Scotch pies, lorne sausage and haggis.

“I love cooking,” he said. “I’m innovative and enjoy coming up with vegan versions of popular dishes.

“It’s becoming an obsession.

“I’m really excited to have my own kitchen, so I can start experimenting and cooking different types of vegan food.

“With JVNK it was fast food like hot dogs and burgers, mainly because our space was limited.”

According to the Vegan Society the number of Britons adopting a vegan diet quadrupled between 2014 and 2018.

Other research findings suggest more than a quarter of all evening meals in the UK are either vegan or vegetarian.

The Alley Cat also plans to be a zero-waste business – following in the footsteps of the Wild Cat Cafe in Fort William – by composting, recycling and reusing wherever possible.

Mr Barnett, who will be supported in his new venture by his sister Claire Reed, and Ayesha Naples, said: “We want to discourage the use of takeaway cups by selling eco-friendly reusable ones and encouraging customers to bring their own.

“We will also utilise local produce and suppliers and make our own plant-based milks.”

He added: “I don’t think we will be the last vegan cafe to open in Inverness.

“On the contrary, I believe we are just the start.”

“We hope to open to the public at the end of January, just in time for the Burns Night celebrations on the 25th.”

“We hope to open to the public just in time for the Burns Night celebrations ”

MEAT-FREE: Andrew Barnett, who has made his name with vegan twists on popular fast foods, opens the Alley Cat Cafe this month