News
Restaurant causes a stir online after refusing to cater to ‘holier than thou’ vegans
BY Joanna Sarah-Freedman
15 Aug 2022
05m
You might remember just weeks ago we were telling you about the social media storm Jeremy Clarkson found himself in after refusing to serve vegans at his new restaurant, Diddly Squat.
But it turns out he’s not alone. Another restaurant in the Isle of Wight has now caused a stir by announcing it would no longer serve vegan food after what they describe as “bullying” from some members of the plant-based community.
In a controversial statement, the establishment, named The Kitchen at London House, said they’d had enough of catering to some people’s “holier than thou” attitudes, and explained why they thought offering up a plant-based alternative shouldn’t be a given.
“On Monday we posted our evening menu for our new restaurant The London House Bistro,” the statement wrote.
“Within minutes several people commented about the fact that nothing on the menu was vegan. I apologised politely and professionally that sadly we do not cater for vegans.”
The restaurant went on to say that in the past they had catered for vegans, offering everything from vegan bacon to plant based cream teas.
“We stopped,” they wrote. “Why? Because we got fed up with the arrogant, “holier-than-thou” attitude.
The Kitchen is based in Isle of Wight (Credit: Instagram/ The Kitchen At London House)
“Had that have been a food intolerance we couldn’t cater for, ordinarily, that would have sufficed. However, some nasty people have felt it’s their place and right to criticise this fact.
“Please, vegans, It is not a given that we should adapt our menu to suit your preference. If you want vegan food, go to a vegan restaurant… incidentally if I went to one and asked for a steak I wouldn’t get one, nor would I expect to.
“You have chosen your lifestyle, it’s not a medical condition that you’ve been forced to endure through no fault of your own.
“Your choice does not fit with our style of cooking. We respect your choice and expect that you respect ours.”
The restaurant picked up some flack on social media (Credit: Facebook/ The Kitchen at London House)
The statement immediately got people talking online, and it’s safe to say the crowds were divided.
Some though the restaurant owner was within their right to serve whatever they wanted, and they let their feelings be known.
“Your restaurant: your menu,” wrote one. “You wouldn’t expect a vegan restaurant to cater for a carnivore, and I bet there isn’t all the bullying from meat eaters stating this fact.”
Whilst another penned: “About time someone said it how it is. Well done!”
Rather melodramatically, a third said: “BRB. I’m just going to visit my local snooker hall, declare that I am a downhill skier and insist that they cater for my need to ski downhill.
(Credit: Facebook/ The Kitchen at London House)
There were many who were more than a little miffed, though.
“You’ve literally admitted that you *can* provide vegan options, but you’ve chosen to stop doing so out of spite. That feels pretty immature, and you’re obviously going to get a negative response for it,” wrote one person in the comments.
Whilst another said: “It’s an ethical choice for vegans, not just a ‘lifestyle’. Because of this post, I’m afraid I would never want to give you any of my money, even if I was buying food for someone else.”
(Credit: Facebook/ The Kitchen at London House)
“Wow. You say not to tar everyone with the same brush but that’s exactly what you’ve done,” chimed in somebody else. “The huge difference is vegans don’t eat meat but meat eaters eat vegan food! Plus as someone said above, veganism covers dairy allergies and more.
“Don’t offer a vegan option then fine but doing an anti-vegan post like this is discriminatory and a poor business decision”.
“Local vegan here. Really sorry for giving a damn about animals,” penned another.
The restaurant’s new menu features the like of beef short rib, confit duck leg cassoulet and sea bass. There’s also a goats cheese fig tart for vegetarians.
Twisted has contacted The Kitchen for a comment.
BY Joanna Sarah-Freedman
