In recent years, veganism has become a lifestyle choice for many people for a number of reasons, such as protecting the environment and saying no to animal cruelty.
And after the excesses of Christmas, Veganuary is an annual challenge that more and more people take up each year where they follow a vegan lifestyle for a month. While Northumberland is well-known for its non-vegan products, most notably Craster kippers, there are a selection of places throughout the county where you can sample meat and dairy-free delights.
Here are some of the best places to eat vegan in Northumberland.
Read more: Top vegan restaurants in Newcastle
Pilgrims Coffee House & Roastery, Holy Island
In July 2021, Pilgrims Gelato ditched dairy in favour of making its range vegan and accessible to all. Founded in 2011, cousins Charlotte and Farah offer a range of vegan gelatos at their coffee house and roastery on Holy Island.
Pilgrims focuses on sustainability, and their aluminium tins full of gelato come with the best alternative to plastic there is - an edible spoon made of cocoa and grains. While a trip to Holy Island is very much recommended, Pilgrims' products are sold in independent retailers, cafes and delis across the North East, so you don't have to go all the way to Lindisfarne to sample these vegan delights.
Karmic Cakery
Karmic Cakery is the closest thing to a fully-vegan restaurant in Northumberland. Ironically set in an former abattoir in Spittal, it's open every Saturday and first Wednesday of the month.
Owner Tania Arnold started off with baked goods, such as plant-based sausage rolls and cakes, but has since expanded to doner kebabs, katsu curries and fish and chips, with the menu changing every week depending on what's available and what she fancies cooking. Karmic's next door neighbour is the Bear Claw Brewery, which deals in vegan-friendly beer, so check out both next time you're in Berwick.
Queen's Plaice, Amble
Fish and chips is one of the most popular meals you can get on the Northumberland Coast. However, the traditional way that many chippies still fry their potatoes is by using beef dripping, meaning that the fish and chips isn't even veggie, let alone vegan.
Queen's Plaice in Alnwick is one of the exceptions, with its chips fried in vegetable oil and an extensive veggie menu including falafel, pea croquettes and a garden burger. All fried food at Queen's Plaice is also gluten free.
The Blissful Pig, Alnwick
The Blissful Pig is a fully vegan kitchen based in Alnwick which offers brownies, blondies, traybakes and celebration cakes. Though there's no shop of which to speak, owner Anne McNally makes the products in her fully vegan kitchen and local pick up and delivery is available.
She even delivers her brownies and blondies all over the UK. You can find the Blissful Pig's products in several cafes in Alnwick and Morpeth including Harry's and the Strawberry Lounge - and our next entry.
The Running Fox
The Running Fox is known for having some of the best afternoon teas in Northumberland, and it offers a vegan option with sandwiches, freshly baked scones, jackfruit parcels and cakes. For a lighter snack, sandwiches, cakes and scones are available on their own too.
There are four Running Foxes across Northumberland - in Shilbottle Longframlington, Longhoughton and Felton.
Hextol Tans Coffee Shop and Vegetarian Café, Hexham
A narrow alley off Hexham's Market Place will bring you onto St Mary's Chare and Hextol Tans Coffee Shop and Vegetarian Café. Run by volunteers, the popular café has a range of vegan options including soups and tagines.
Stu and Martin, Ashington
Bistro Stu and Martin on Ashington's Station Road isn't a dedicated vegetarian or vegan restaurant, but it does have a veggie/vegan menu more extensive than most. It offers vegan takes on popular pub grub such as bangers and mash, (mushroom) steak and a chicken style salad.
Loaf B&B, Tweedmouth
Loaf, which stands for local organic animal friendly, is Northumberland's only vegan B&B at the time of writing. One of the pioneers of vegan business in Northumberland, it's been open for almost nine years.
Situated in Tweedmouth, just ten minutes away from Berwick's railway station, guests can sample vegan food during their stay near the Scottish border. Loaf also has open days which our advertised on its social media pages, where lunches and afternoon teas are served in the riverside garden.
Where is your favourite place for vegan food in Northumberland? Let us know!
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