Vegans and veggies of Brighton, rejoice! Once again Vegfest, one of the biggest vegan festivals in the whole of Europe, makes its welcome return to the nation’s veggie capital next month! Between Sat 11 – Sun 12 March this massive event will transform the Brighton Centre into a bustling meat-free hub, jam-packed with 20 caterers and a whopping 230 stalls. Home of all things vegan, there’s plenty to keep you busy – food, shopping, cosmetics, clothing, and lots more exciting and innovative goodies. Vegfest will also feature dozens of engaging talks, cookery demos from the likes of Nishma Shah and Ellie Bedford, music from two stages, magic shows, captivating films and documentaries and even a Vloggers Corner where vegans can pick up bite-sized inspiration. But the fun doesn’t stop there! On Saturday the event will also be home to an Intersectional Vegan Summit involving a number of knowledgable experts sharing their ideas on various issues, followed by a Vegan Comedy Festival on Sunday.
Demand for exhibition space hasn’t stopped growing. This has led to Vegfest welcoming both charities and small businesses showcasing all the vegan produce you could possibly imagine. We know it can be tough finding substitutes to our favourite treats, but not here. Vegfest is full of all kinds of alternatives to meat, cheese, milk, and – of course – chocolate. Amongst this sumptuous vegan food feast there will be clothing, cosmetics, bodycare, literature, gifts, and all the information and tips any vegan could possibly desire – with plenty of special offers not to be missed. Here at Vegfest, there truly is something for anyone.
Since their humble beginnings in Bristol all the way back in 2003, the organisers never looked back. After many years of hard work and steady expansion, Vegfest eventually made its way to Brighton. With the admirable idea to mix the seriousness of veganism with a rock and roll festival atmosphere, full of eating, socialising, learning and partying, Vegfest continues to grow and grow. A heaven for vegans and veggies everywhere, it aims to be a place where those living plant-based lifestyles can meet and mix with like-minded people, learn more about healthy ethical eating, taste exciting tasty food and drink, all the while soaking up the fun-filled party atmosphere.
Amongst the amazing and inventive caterers attending are Loving Hut Express, Happy Maki and Vegan Sweet Tooth London. From these names and more you’ll find such a range of cuisine from hot dogs to sushi, curries to kebabs, pastries to pizzas and so much more you never even knew could be so good until now. If you’re looking for a vegan foodie paradise, you’ve found it.
VegfestUK organiser Tim Barford, who has been organising vegan events for over a decade, stresses that the events are all about going totally vegan. Not about cutting down on meat or choosing eggs over fish, but going entirely vegan, pure and simple. It’s about considering animal welfare, the planet, your own health, and sustainable food production. In 2011, Barford and his team won the Vegan Society’s Best Vegan Achievement award, and Vegfest aspires to further demonstrate this introduction into veganism, proving just how easy it is to go vegan, live vegan and stay vegan.
With a new plant-based café, restaurant or pop-up stall seemingly opening up every week, surely there’s no better place for Vegfest than our lovely Brighton. With Infinity Foods and Vegetarian Shoes in North Laine, as well as Iydea and Heather Mills’ vegan café VBites – even schools offering vegan options – there’s a plethora of fantastic and tasty choices for vegans living in Brighton & Hove. With any luck, Vegfest will help encourage more and more of us to try this smart and benevolent lifestyle.
Advance tickets: £7 per day and £10 for the whole weekend, plus booking fees.
Limited amount of tickets available on the door at £10 (adults) / £5 (concessions).
Under 16s go free.
www.brighton.vegfest.co.uk
www.vegfest.co.uk
