Places to go for Vegans in Stafford.

Lunar Scorpion

Anarchy in the UK
In view of your requirements I can't honestly think of anywhere better than a visit to Birmingham, which is a shame. However it's only a cheap return ticket away and most of the decent eateries are with walking (or bus distance if you don't like the idea of walking round Brum at night).
Most of my friends are in Stafford, and a standard off-peak return is over £10 - I wouldn't count that as cheap.

Bistro 1847 is only a 10 minute walk from New Street Station and I'd say well worth the extra the train will cost you.

It's always going to be the case that large cities will offer a wider choice of eateries that little towns like Stafford I'm afraid.
I'm not after a wide choice of eateries, just one that offers a decent selection for vegans will do!
 

darben

Well-Known Forumite
What about the Royal Bangkok Thai restaurant on Mill Bank, it does a lot of tofu dishes.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Most of my friends are in Stafford, and a standard off-peak return is over £10 - I wouldn't count that as cheap.


I'm not after a wide choice of eateries, just one that offers a decent selection for vegans will do!
OK, but I fear you are condemning yourself to disappointment.
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
Re the drinks at The Swan, the veggie/vegan menu includes a bottle of wine. The first time I went, I was impressed that they had found vegan wine - I haven't checked the label since so I am assuming that's still the case.

Also, Thr Swan are very customer focused. If you gave them some ideas for vegan dishes, they might be able to consider adding to their Tuesday menu. You could also order off the menu but ask for certain ingredients to be omitted.

Happy birthday for Wednesday!
 

darben

Well-Known Forumite
See my earlier post about having to rely on Asian restaurants... Contrary to popular belief, tofu isn't actually a staple food for a lot of vegans.
Please excuse me but I was only trying to help. I often eat vegetarian food and if I have vegetarian guests I will only offer vegetarian food no matter how many meat eaters are present. I do understand the options are limited if you want to eat out and was just offering up an idea. I'm sure if there was a financially viable market it would have been catered for. I admit I maybe was a bit flippant with my link but there has been several scientific studies/papers in this area.
 

darben

Well-Known Forumite
Re the drinks at The Swan, the veggie/vegan menu includes a bottle of wine. The first time I went, I was impressed that they had found vegan wine - I haven't checked the label since so I am assuming that's still the case.

Also, Thr Swan are very customer focused. If you gave them some ideas for vegan dishes, they might be able to consider adding to their Tuesday menu. You could also order off the menu but ask for certain ingredients to be omitted.

Happy birthday for Wednesday!
I agree they are very good at the Swan, they also have quite a few (more than the norm) vegetarian options available on their normal menu, so any nights good if your open to others eating meat around you.
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
As long as the restaurant and the customer are fairly flexible things can usually be accommodated fairly easily.

My favourite place to eat is Las Iguanas. They have loads of veggie dishes and they list them all on a separate vegetarian menu to make it easier to spot them. All the dishes indicate whether they are vegetarian or vegan and you are asked to tell the waiter if you are vegan, so that they can advise which vegetarian dishes can be adapted.

I am going to the Las Iguanas in Manchester tomorrow. It is my reward for going on a tour of the Etihad stadium.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
2. In your extremely biased opinion.
3. Every single vegan dish on the menu I posted was fairly predictable - albeit some had a mildly interesting twist. Not everyone likes to eat the same food over and over again, particularly vegans who usually have very little choice when eating out in Stafford.

2. Also it appears the view of every eatery in Stafford, hence none doing it.
2. Carnivores have this problem too, most restaurants sell the same stuff and are scared to differentiate due to aforementioned reasons.

Seriously, if you want to specialise you need quantity of customers. It's no different to me not being able to get good cider here, people sell strongbow and Bulmer because everyone else sells strongbow and Bulmer so it's a safe bet. Until I can afford to open my own bar I'm resigned to visiting Birmingham or drinking at home if I want a decent drink.
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Oh what about the Bean Encounter?
Do they do vegan?
I had a veggie burger there and it was delish!
Take off the goats cheese and hey presto - vegan!
Also Luna they have lovely handmade still lemonade and tasty fruit juices!
They do meat dishes but nothing stinky!
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
One of the women who work there is definitely veggie, possibly vegan, so worth checking with her? Food there is lovely, worth a visit.
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Most of my friends are in Stafford, and a standard off-peak return is over £10 - I wouldn't count that as cheap.

If there are three or more people you can get a group ticket which works out cheaper than using railcards. Last time it was two senile old git railcards and one student railcard and still cheaper to ignore those and get a group ticket. You all have to come back together though.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Until I can afford to open my own bar I'm resigned to visiting Birmingham or drinking at home if I want a decent drink.

When you do open your own bar, presumably you will sell cider and cider only, yes? Because that's what you believe in - that will cater to your niche market nicely.

When your bar subsequently folds, origami style, into the shape of a Swan, you can then invite Lunar to open a Vegan Restaurant in Stafford.

And sit back, watching it fold into the shape of a hole full of no money.
 

Frontal

Well-Known Forumite
As someone who actually has looked into a vegan/veggie commercial venture, I can say it was deemed financially unfeasible in Stafford, simply isn't the market for it here. We looked (and still wistfully glance) into the idea of setting up a small catering van for it, but it would be a labour of love, not profit, and thus we couldn't reconcile losing our jobs over.

Good luck in the search, if you do find somewhere let us know!

I really must try the bean encounter. Love coffee and the veggie burger looks tasty!
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
When you do open your own bar, presumably you will sell cider and cider only, yes? Because that's what you believe in - that will cater to your niche market nicely.


Nope, I'll focus on cider but still sell all other drinks as anything else is also commercial suicide. I'll just focus on better quality drinks, no carling or strongbow that's for sure. I'll probably focus a lot on bottles, they keep for a long time so more likely to be sold than binned if nobody goes for them.

Needless to say it will have to be a free house, anything brewery tied stands little chance.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
TekPub_logo1.png
 

United57

Well-Known Forumite
In the 70's went in to a pub in Dudley asked for 2 pints of bitter and told we are a mild house!
 
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