It has taken longer than planned, but Bristol's newest vegan hangout has finally opened its doors.
The team behind FLIP on North Street had planned to open their café and deli in April, only for delays allegedly caused by solicitors to knock the launch back by four months, keeping Bristol's plant-based community eagerly waiting.
But lifelong vegetarian Sophie Fox, who previously ran Café Create at The Create Centre in Hotwells for eight years, threw the doors open yesterday - much to the delight of both her and nearby residents.
The menu at FLIP - which was formerly the Eastern Tandoori takeaway before lying vacant for five years - includes a range of vegan pies, pasta dishes and sauces including puttanesca, salads and more.
Customers can either fill up containers of food from the deli to take home with them or opt to eat it in the café. It is a zero plastic site with compostable and reusable boxes offered by the café.
Pierre Fox, Sophie's husband, said: "It took us a lot longer than we had hoped to pick up the keys due to solicitors being a little on the slow side.
"This meant we only got access to the site less than two months ago, which was frustrating as we had everything else ready to go long before that.
"So it's been a very long process getting to where we are today but we're delighted to finally be up and running.
"We were really busy on our first day and there's been lots of interest on social media too. We felt like North Street was crying out for something like this and we hope it's something the whole community can enjoy."
The head chef of FLIP previously worked in the kitchen at The Christmas Steps pub, but wanted to turn his hand to vegan food.
Along with the rest of the FLIP team, he will work with local artisan food producers to bring customers 'simple yet exquisite dishes'.
FLIP has employed a total of eight members of staff, forming a "fantastic team of people who really believe in the ethos," said Pierre.
For the latest news in and around Bristol, check back on Bristol Live's homepage.
.jpg?w=600)
