Vegan Manchester: The Low-Down on the City’s Vegan Scene

The Veggie Capital of the UK…

In 1847 the Vegetarian Society was founded in Manchester by the aptly named Reverend Cowherd. It was the first organisation for the promotion of meat-free living in the UK, and one of the first of its kind in the world. Since then, Manchester’s veggie credentials have gotten stronger and stronger.

The vibrancy of the city’s vegetarian and vegan culture should really come as no surprise. After all, Mancunians are famed for creatively pushing the envelope, and the city has a stellar reputation when it comes to ethical causes.

(We even have the People’s History Museum, which is dedicated to the ideas of equality, social justice, cooperation, and crafting a fairer world for all.)

But sitting harmoniously alongside good ethical credentials, vegan diners want to be assured of awesome food, don’t they? Fortunately, Manchester’s dozens of veggie and vegan restaurants offer tons of exciting, delicious choices.

In fact, it was this variety that inspired us to design our own Vegan Manchester Food Tour. Whether your visiting Manchester for a short stay, or are a local hoping to find new culinary experiences, the eight tastings included in our tour are sure to provide something for everyone. 

Veganism in Britain: A Food Revolution!

Veganism has been positively booming in recent years. At the beginning of 2022, over 600,000 people signed up to take part in the UK’s annual Veganuary, where participants are encouraged to go vegan for the month of January.

The growth of plant-based diets, though, is not only linked to short-term initiatives. The long-term growth of veganism within the UK is no less impressive. In 2014, around 0.25% of the British population were vegan; today, 1.16% identify as vegan! And 42% of vegans polled said that 2018 was the year they adopted the diet.

Yes, an increasingly health-conscious and green-focused British public has embraced a plant-based lifestyle like never before. For foodies, this means one really important thing: lots of more choice when heading out for dinner!

The Manchester Vegan Scene

From high-end restaurants to street food trucks, Manchester has a wealth of vegan options!

Bundobust in the city centre has been producing some of the most amazing Indian vegan flavours for years. Bringing together flavoursome, colourful vegetarian Indian dishes, and refreshing local craft beers, Bundobust has found a winning formula! With food this good and an ace atmosphere, you might end up becoming a regular. 

Vegan pizzas are all the rage at Four Side Pizza. Detroit style pizzas sold whole, or by the slice, and everything is 100% vegan! The concept of vegan pizzas has had its fair share of doubters over the years, but you can be assured of a tasty meal at Four Side Pizza – they’re the best at what they do. As former Manchester resident Friedrich Engels would no doubt remind you, it’s all a matter of supply and demand. With veganism expanding as it is, the quality of veggie goodies just gets better.

At Black Leaf, they’re all about the use of seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients to make really exciting plant-based dishes. You can always expect plates that are as nutritious as they are delicious, so you come away feeling full and revitalised. This is vegan cuisine at its healthy, unprocessed best. 

Over at V Revolution, meanwhile, the order of the day is comfort food! V Revolution owner Dom Moss and his staff are constantly pushing the boundaries. So a vegan burger or portion of vegan Mac & Cheese will never carry the rich, heartiness you crave? Think again. At V Revolution you’ll find a menu full of decadent, classic pub dishes, all prepared totally free of animal products. A great choice for those who’ve recently switched to a plant-based diet and miss some of their old go-to dishes.

Explore more veggie eateries over at Happy Cow

Yes, Manchester is most definitely a city celebrating vegan food….

So, why not join us for our ultimate vegan food walking tour. On the tour we’ll explore some of Manchester’s back streets, taking in the stories and legends that make this city so great.

Led by one of our local vegan food experts, every tour will take in six different vegan stops and over eight different vegan tastings.

Meet the chefs and producers, hear their stories, and share their love and devotion for a vegan Manchester.

Not Just for the Vegan Foodie

While we’ve been discussing our vegan food tour and the veggie scene we love, we are always keen for as many non-vegans to come along and see what all the fuss is about. We’re not trying to convert anyone but if we can introduce a few new flavours and ingredients to your life then we’re doing our job.

The tour is every Thursday and Sunday starting at 11.30 am and it takes about 3 hours. We keep the group to a maximum of ten.

If you’d prefer your own private vegan food tour for just your group, send us an email at manchester@bitestours.com 

Alternatively, you can explore our full selection of Manchester foodie walking tours on our website.

Enjoying vegan Thai on our Manchester Vegan food tour