London Vegetarians
moove2london on 07 Dec 2009Vegetarians living in London have more options available to them than anywhere else in the world, according to PETA (People for the Ethnic Treatment of Animals) who have recently named London as the most vegetarian-friendly city in the world.
Vegetarianism is extremely popular in the UK, compared to other countries in the world. According to research conducted by the Vegetarian Society, there are currently around 4 million vegetarians living in the UK, which represents around 7% of our population. Approximately 5,000 people per week are thought to convert to vegetarianism, so having our capital city named as the most veggie-friendly in the world, should hardly be a surprise, particularly when you consider the history of vegetarianism in this country. London’s first vegetarian society was set up in 1849 and makes it one of the oldest if not the oldest society of it’s kind in the world.
Try eating out in certain cities in Europe or America and you might be surprised at the lack of knowledge surrounding the vegetarian diet. Some restaurants might believe that veggies eat fish or even chicken and whilst some veggies might, it’s certainly not the norm. That’s why being a vegetarian in London is so refreshingly easy. The majority of eating establishments, from pubs to award-winning restaurants, will offer at least one vegetarian-friendly dish, with most places offering a selection which is more adventurous than the usual ‘vegetarian lasagne’.
The cultural diversity of London’s population also means that meat-free cuisine brought by immigrants from all around the world, are available to London’s veggies. For example, Thai and Indian cooking has a multitude of delicious dishes that are suitable for vegetarians, as well as their fellow meat-eating diners.
However, it’s not just eating out that is easy for vegetarians. Sam Smiths pubs, discussed in one of my earlier blog posts, are extremely veggie-friendly. All of these Sam Smith’s beers, are not only vegetarian, but also vegan and are registered with and approved by the Vegan Society.
Here are our top 10 popular vegetarian restaurants that have helped to win London it’s crown of being the most veggie-friendly city in the world.
- Mildreds in Soho
- The Gate in Hammersmith
- Tibits near Piccadilly
- Czech-Slovak Restaurant in Hampstead – for carnivores too, but offers extensive Veggie menu and incorporates quorn into many dishes.
- 222 Veggie Vegan in West Kensington
- Eat and Two Veg on Marylebone High Street
- Green Note in Camden
- Manna in Primrose Hill
- Peking Palace on Holloway Road
- Domali Cafe Bar in Crystal Palace
So, if all this hasn’t convinced you that being veggie in London is the way forward, then I recommend grabbing a copy of Alex Bourne’s Vegetarian London guide. Alex Bourne is the director of the Vegan Society and has written many books about vegetarianism. This guide lists over 250 veggie and vegan restaurants and other eating establishments and comes with a 5/5 feedback from all it’s reviewers at present. It also lists where to find the best 150 healthfood stores, wholefood stores, juice bars and vegan pubs. Even if you’re not veggie, if you happen to be welcoming veggie or vegan guests into the capital, then this book is unmissable.