Top 10 vegan and vegetarian spots in the Lake District
This month marks Veganuary: a global charity launched in 2014 aiming to inspire and support people to try vegan diets for the new year and beyond.
Over 580,000 people signed up to the campaign last year with over 825 vegan products and menus launched for Veganuary from companies across the world.
Here in the lakes, we spoke to passionate blogger Matt Helm who runs ‘Vegan Lake District’ with partner Nicky Meyer. Since 2015, the vegan pair have discovered almost every vegan and vegetarian eatery there is in the lakes and review them for their website.
“In terms of variety, the Lake District is much better than it was six years ago,” said Matt. “But it can still be tricky to find places to eat outside of the main towns. That’s why we set up Vegan Lake District! The options now available in Keswick and Ambleside are excellent.”
Matt understands changing your diet can be tricky and frustrating at first, but he urges people to give it a go and try and stick with it.
“It gets easier after the first couple of weeks,” said Matt. “It takes ages to figure out what you can and can’t buy at a supermarket and you have to come up with new meal ideas and learn new recipes. It can be frustrating but as you get used to the vegan options available and find meals you enjoy it all becomes much easier!”
After speaking to Matt, we have put together our own list of the best vegan and vegetarian cafes and restaurants the Lake District has to offer. Whether you’ve always practiced a vegan diet, or want to try something new this year, there’s a place here for you in the lakes…
1. Kat’s Kitchen, Keswick
Founded by vegan owner Kat Hale in 2016, Kat’s Kitchen is a 100% vegan café and grocery shop situated beside the bridge over the River Greta in Keswick. The quaint café serve up a range of vegan produce from savoury favourites including Sunday lunches and Buddha Bowls, to sweet treats of cakes and cookies.
The café was featured on national TV last September when wildlife presenter Chris Packham visited with his daughter for their show ‘Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer’. A firm favourite for local and visiting vegans.
3. The Yard Kitchen, Penrith
Located in Brunswick Court in the little market town of Penrith, The Yard Kitchen is a popular café accommodating both vegans and vegetarians. The stylish yard overlooks the Eden Valley with beautiful views across over to the Pennines. Don’t let sitting outdoors put you off in the winter, the yard provides heaters to keep you nice and toasty! Serving gluten-free seasonal brunch, lunch, cakes and vegan milkshakes made with ingredients grown on site, you can’t get any more homemade than here!
5. Waterside Café and Bistro, Kendal
Alongside the river Kent, the family run Waterside Café and Bistro is a vegetarian and vegan café offering delicious food at affordable prices. The café takes pride in using the finest organic and fair trade ingredients in their produce, including popular seasonal dishes such as warming soups, cottage pie and traditional salads. Tasty desserts include sticky toffee pudding, ice cream and scones.
Food can be enjoyed inside the relaxed atmosphere of the café or available to take away.
Open 9:30am- 4pm Monday- Saturday
7. Syke Farm Tea Room, Buttermere
A picturesque little tearoom situated beside the lake in beautiful Buttermere, Syke Farm Tea Room is a popular café serving a great selection of cakes, savoury classics plus tea and coffee. The tearoom offers a separate vegan menu for vegan and vegetarian guests with savoury options including burgers, curries and toasties and sweet treats ranging from coffee cakes to ice cream and brownies.
Open 10am-4pm Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10. Simple Goodness Bistro, Penrith
‘Plant-based, Wholesome, Sustainable’ is the motto of Penrith based vegetarian bistro Simple Goodness. A recent venture, the bistro was opened in 2019 by owners Laszlo and Kriszti. After working in hospitality for years, the founders wanted to create a place that offered tasty, healthy food that is good for the body and the planet. The bistro offers weekly specials and an ever-changing menu including soups, sandwiches, salads and main courses such as curries and pies. Vegan biscuits, cakes and traybakes are available for an after lunch treat.
Open 11am-5pm Tuesday-Friday
-Simple Goodness re-opens for the New Year on 18th January-
2. Fellinis & Zeffirellis, Ambleside
A family run business launched 40 years ago by Italian born retired film director Derek Hook, Fellinis & Zeffirellis are two venues catering for both vegans and vegetarians, uniquely combining restaurants with cinema in Ambleside.
Zeffirellis is one of Ambleside’s most popular family venues and award winning pizzeria. The restaurant offers Italian inspired dishes for lunch and dinner such as pizza’s and pastas alongside entertainment including an upstairs jazz bar and cinema. The cinema is independent supporting new and emerging talent.
The newest establishment opening six years ago, partner restaurant Fellinis is a fine dining, modern venue with a unique Mediterranean twist. The luxurious evening menu includes dishes such as ‘red pepper risotto’ and ‘cashew nut and red lentil en croute’. Above the restaurant is another digital cinema showcasing niche studio and art-house productions. The perfect venue for a date night or special occasion.
4. Green’s Café and Bistro, Grasmere
Placed in the heart of the beautiful village of Grasmere, Green’s Café and Bistro is an idyllic venue perfect for enjoying some tasty vegan and vegetarian treats. Using fresh, local ingredients the café offer plant-based full English breakfasts, Buddah Bowl lunches and sweet treats including Biscoff cupcakes!
Warm up on a cold day with their ‘boozy herdy hot chocolates’ and a homemade cottage pie.
Open 9:30am- 4:30pm everyday
6. Sweet Pepper Café, Barrow-in Furness
Plant based café situated on Dalton Road in Barrow-in-Furness, the Sweet Pepper Café serve a variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes inspired by cuisine from all over the world. Dishes range from oriental stir-fry and curries, to American styles burgers and loaded fries, to Italian inspired pastas… there is definitely something for everyone here. The café say they aim to appeal to everyone by adapting any dish, no matter its origin or main ingredient, to create a ‘veganised version’. The café is open for dine in or takeaways and offer a delivery service.
Open Monday-Friday 11:30am-3pm
then 5pm-9pm
Open Saturdays 12am-9pm
8. Ginnys’ Teapot, Hawkshead
A unique, vintage style tearoom named after the owners cat, Ginny’s Teapot in Hawkshead is perfect for a bit of breakfast, light lunch or afternoon tea. Established in 2018 and made fully vegetarian in 2020, the tearoom offers a full English breakfast, soups, sandwiches and jacket potato’s with fillings such as vegan cheese, hummus and chilli. A large range of vegan sponge cakes are available for a treat including flavours such as chocolate, salted caramel and rhubarb and ginger. The tearoom also boasts hot chocolates with vegan marshmallows, which are a rare find!
Open 10am-4pm everyday
9. The Garden Café, Kendal
Situated outside the Quaker Tapestry Museum, The Garden Café is a family run business owned by locals Nikki and Bryan who have a passion for plant based food and local supplies. The friendly café is popular amongst the local community and is renowned for its homemade, plant-based sausage rolls! Other produce includes soups, flatbreads and crepes; however seasonal ingredients are always used so the menu varies over the year and includes daily specials.
Nikki and Bryan’s son Rory focuses on the desserts creating delicious treats including sponge cakes and Bakewell tarts. Ideal for sweet-toothed vegans!
Open 10:30am- 3:30pm Wednesday-Saturday
An increase in coronavirus cases is currently affecting the café. Keep an eye out on their Facebook page for opening days
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Please note: frame or mount not included and are an example of framing options only.
The perfect gift for Wainwrights walkers and all fell lovers.
Fells include: Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Great End, Bowfell, Great Gable, Pillar, Blencartha, Old Man of Coniston, Harrison Stickle, Haystacks, and Cat Bells.
Each hill and ridge outline is printed with name and height in metres.