How to Eat Vegan at Festivals
With the bank holiday weekend set to be a scorcher, there’s still plenty of time to celebrate the summer season. And luckily, Notting Hill Carnival, Edinburgh Fringe, and many other events this weekend and beyond offer plenty of delectable plant-based dishes for you to enjoy.
Whether you’re in the capital or in a long-forgotten forest, you can get your animal-friendly festival on with great vegan food.
Notting Hill Carnival
Famous for its vibrant and electrifying atmosphere, the annual Notting Hill Carnival takes centre stage not only for its wealth of entertainment but also for its increasingly varied vegan food offering.
Among the 200-plus stalls, look out for 100% vegan vendor Renee’s Kitchen, which will be serving up barbecued-jackfruit wraps with plantain, pomegranate seeds, gem lettuce, mango, and BBQ jerk sauce at 317–318 Portobello Road. Other Caribbean dishes that are often vegan include ital sweet potato pudding, Jamaican jerk black bean tacos with roasted corn salsa, banana fritters, hot and fruity Caribbean coleslaw, and jerk sweet potato and black bean curry – just make sure that you check the ingredients before ordering.
And if you need a break from the revelry, you can explore some of our favourite West London eateries while you’re in the neighbourhood.
And if you need a break from the revelry, you can explore some of our favourite West London eateries while you’re in the neighbourhood.
Recent years have seen a surge in the availability of Caribbean vegan specialities throughout the capital, and many will be on offer over the bank holiday. If you’re still hungry once all the floats have come and gone, head over to Brixton and enjoy a delicious chickpea curry at Eat of Eden. Or venture south-east to the Prince of Peckham for a southern-fried cauliflower sub with homemade vegan Scotch bonnet mayo, lime, and coriander slaw.
Edinburgh Fringe
It isn’t just London that’s playing host to some fantastic street entertainment – this year’s Edinburgh Fringe festival is delivering a stellar array of first-class performances and equally good food. Here are some of our top picks for vegan dining and finding snacks on the go.
- Holy Cow: This small independent café located in the very heart of the city serves delicious vegan burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, coffee, and cakes.
- Seeds for the Soul: This 100% vegan restaurant boasts a variety of tasty options from numerous cuisines, featuring organic and local produce. It specialises in gluten-free vegan cakes, too.
- Lazy Lettuce: Situated in the Edinburgh old town, this is the place to go for meaty vegan burgers and Oreo or peanut butter milkshakes.
Still hungry? Take a look at our Edinburgh vegan city guide.
Lost Village Festival
If you’re yearning to make the most of the sun in the fresh air this weekend, head down to Lost Village Festival in Lincolnshire, which is offering more vegan meals and snacks this year than ever before to keep you well fuelled. You can sample a grilled aubergine satay curry, vegan bao with tempura mushrooms, and a decadent burger by Biff’s Jack Shack. Or if none of those strikes your fancy, check out all the vegan food on offer here.
Shambala Festival
Shambala, which takes place in Northamptonshire this weekend, has been meat-free since 2016. Vegan offerings include sensational Mexican tacos by Club Mexicana, Shamburger’s Silly Gringo Burger, hoisin “duck” sushi by Happy Maki, and chilli dogs and more from Deli Posh Dogs.
The Best of the Rest
These aren’t the only festivals that have developed a taste for vegan food. For example, Norwich’s Sundown Festival (30 August–1 September) also promises a selection of vegan options.
Why Eat Vegan at Festivals?
The meat, fishing, egg, and dairy industries are a nightmare for animals, who are treated like “products” rather than sentient individuals who have the ability to feel pain, fear, and joy, just as we do. Learn more about the reality of animal agriculture:
Being kind to animals is simple. To help you get started with making the transition to a compassionate lifestyle, our free vegan starter kit has tips and information on going vegan – for animals, the environment, and your health. Download a copy today!
