UK: This major festival is actually a hidden gem for vegan food

From veganfoodandliving.com

It’s won Best Family Festival six times, but what you might not know is that Camp Bestival is surprisingly vegan-friendly

There’s something so magical about festivals in the UK. The excitement as you search for outfits on Vinted and plan for rain, sun and everything in between.

The race to set up your tent in a good spot (and wondering whether 2pm is too early for a G&T).

And then the event itself – exploring, shopping, dancing, making new friends and of course, eating the most delicious street food.

But for those of us who don’t eat meat and dairy, or anyone wanting to cut down on animal foods, is there enough to keep you satiated for four whole days of partying?

We visited Camp Bestival – dubbed a ‘festi-holiday’ near the sea in sunny Dorset and host to big name acts like Fat Boy Slim, Bastille and Self Esteem – to find out what’s on offer.

                                                                                                          © Camp Bestival/Canva

Vegan street food at Camp Bestival

One of the best things about Camp Bestival, which was set up in 2008 by DJ Rob Da Bank and his wife Josie, is its friendly, happy vibe. Wondering around the site, you’re met with endless smiles and a willingness to share tips – including on where to find the best food.

With so many vendors to choose from and a tight budget to spread across 4 days, every meal requires careful consideration. No one wants to waste £6 on a sad-looking portion of chips, when they could’ve had a big stack of tacos.

Part of the fun is spotting what other people are eating and asking for directions to the street food van. Almost every food joint has one or more vegan options at Camp Bestival.

Festival favourite Mel's Tropical Kitchen serves up fresh vegan dishes with a Caribbean twist. Photo © Holly Johnson/Vegan Food & Living

Vegan breakfast and lunch at Camp Bestival

En route from the campsite to the main festival arena, I spot a bakery selling fresh breads and pastries. The focaccia is vegan-friendly, along with all the freshly-made sourdough loaves.

The stand next door sells smoothies, smashed avocado and fruit pots – all vegan and perfect for a healthy, energy-packed start to a day of festivaling. We’re off to a good start!

For lunch, we stop at Chickenish (a regular at the UK’s biggest vegan festival, Vegan Camp Out) and – yep – everything is vegan! After a good ten minutes starring at the menu, discussing in great detail what to go for, my daughter chooses the Hot as Honey burger, made with spicy vegan ‘honey’, baconnaise, ranch slaw and crispy onions.

It looks INCREDIBLE.

I watch with envy as she tucks into the soy-based vegan chicken burger, dripping with gooey sauce and topped with crunchy onions. She says it’s the best thing she’s ever eaten, and we vow to return the next day.

Budget vegan food at Camp Bestival

Of course, you can take your own food to the festival, but – as with any festival – carrying bags of food shopping from the car to the tent, keeping it cold and cooking it isn’t the easiest.

Taking a small gas camping stove and a kettle is a good idea, so you can heat water for cups of tea and the odd pot of noodles. Packs of vegan croissants are also handy for a quick breakfast – in fact, the little camping shop near our tent sold vegan pastries, so we could replenish stocks when we ran out.

Another top tip is to find the WI Tent. A cult favourite at Camp Bestival, the tent is run by the Women’s Institute, offering sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee at bargain prices.

I didn’t expect to find anything vegan-friendly, but lo and behold they had vegan cheese and tomato sandwiches freshly made to order! Costing just a couple of pounds, this felt like a big win.

World foods at Camp Bestival

Later on, I stumble across a Basque food van called the Basque Street Boys (who can resist such a good pun?). To my delight, they whip up a cornflour galette known as ‘Taloak’ filled with roasted veggies and some crunchy patata bravas on the side.

In fact, there’s vegan street food from all over the world at Camp Bestival – falafels loaded with pickles and dips, Nepalise dishes bursting with flavour and colour, spicy Thai noodles, ramen, katsu curries and much more.

A delicious and colourful falafel bowl at Camp Bestival. Photo © Holly Johnson/Vegan Food & Living

Late night vegan eats

Anyone who’s been to a weekend-long festival will know that carbs rule.

You’re on your feet all day, exploring the site, dancing to the bands and DJs and maybe even taking part in a bit of yoga or HIIT. Throw some wine, beer or cocktails into the mix and a few nights on an airbed and it’s safe to say your body needs some quick energy wins!

So, despite my good intentions, carbs were my best friend when discovering what’s vegan at Camp Bestival.

I tucked into a few cheese-free pizzas at Carvanserai (a whimsical hideaway where DJs and acrobats perform day and night, and by far my favourite area of the festival). Vegan cheese would’ve been a nice option, but the fresh dough and delicious veggies hit the spot without the need for anything pretending to be dairy.

Loaded fries are another festival favourite, and Camp Bestival offers loaded vegan dirty fries a plenty. I went for the pulled mushrooms with a garlic mayonnaise sauce and was not disappointed – even the non-vegans were asking to try them.

Vegan food demos at Camp Bestival

As if that wasn’t enough, a recent addition to Camp Bestival in Dorset is Slomo Wellbeing. This unique sanctuary experience allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of the festival to take part in yoga classes, meditation, sound therapy and even saunas and ice baths.

Camp Bestival’s Slomo Reset Retreat has hot tubs for hire, where you can kick back in a whirl of bubbles, enjoy a drink and watch the revellers go by.

And in the House of Refresh, you can indulge yourself in a pampering session, complete with hot showers, hairdryers, hair straighteners and vegan-friendly Tropic beauty products.

In keeping with the holistic vibe of this area of the festival, there are plant-based chefs on-hand to provide cooking demos.

2026 will see the incredibly talented Niki Webster from Rebel Recipes take the stage to share her tips for creating whole food plant-based dishes, along with Kelly Barfoot and Bettina Campolucci Bordi.

The festival is clean and family-friendly. Photo © Holly Johnson/Vegan Food & Living

Sustainability at Camp Bestival

Having been to Camp Bestival several times now, I’m always impressed by how well managed the site is. There are plenty of bins and a sense of pride in looking after the Lulworth Castle Estate.

Organisers Josie and Rob Da Bank are passionate about sustainability, reducing waste each year and recycling over 60% of what is produced.

The festival also uses HVO – a biofuel with much lower carbon emissions than diesel.

So what are you waiting for? Book your ticket for this year’s Camp Bestival now!

Whether you choose to go for the day or stay for the whole weekend, it’s a ‘festi-holiday’ you won’t forget – and vegans definitely won’t go hungry.

https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/vegan-lifestyle/travel/vegan-camp-bestival/ 

Why Brooklyn Is Already Obsessed With This New Black-Owned Vegan Focaccia Café

From vegnews.com

Crown Heights’ newest vegan outpost, Nacha Focaccia, is already a hit, selling 400 sandwiches opening weekend and serving creative drinks and plant-based focaccia creations

Focaccia has some serious staying power. Research suggests the bread—synonymous with Italy and beloved for its pillowy interior and crispy golden crust—may have been eaten in Neolithic Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. And yet, in 2026, it’s still popular enough to inspire an entire café concept.

In Brooklyn, vegan chef Charlise Rookwood—the force behind The Black Vegan Cooking Show and the James Beard Award-nominated cookbook Vegan Soulicious—has teamed up with barista Naima Coleman to open Nacha Focaccia, a new plant-based cafe serving specialty lattes, classic coffees, and an array of focaccia-based sandwiches and sweet treats.

                                                                                                                               Nacha Focaccia

Menu options include Morning Munch, a focaccia breakfast sandwich layered with vegan bacon, egg, harissa, and seeded oil crunch mayo; Shikko’s Katsu, featuring a crispy fried cutlet with tonkatsu sauce, cabbage slaw, and fresh cucumber salad; and Chocolate & Co., a double chocolate chunk focaccia topped with nut butter and strawberry jam.

Unsurprisingly, with a menu like that, Nacha Focaccia is already proving to be a hit despite only being officially open for a few days. According to Rookwood, the eatery sold no fewer than 400 sandwiches during its opening weekend.

Building a vegan empire

Rookwood has plans to expand the vegan reach in her space and beyond, including a speakeasy set to open in the basement. Onn the same street, Rookwood is also planning to launch Vegan Soulicious Cafe. Like the chef’s cookbook, the plant-based fast-casual concept will celebrate Mauritian and Caribbean cuisine. 

Right now, Rookwood is focused on attracting investors for the project, which she hopes to eventually scale into a larger chain. “The flagship Brooklyn location is designed as a proof of concept for an ambitious expansion plan targeting urban centres with high demand for plant-based, nutrient-dense cuisine,” the Vegan Soulicious Cafe website reads.

For now, though, customers can sample Rookwood’s expertly crafted vegan fare at Nacha Focaccia.

“Nacha Focaccia is my first restaurant ever,” Rookwood told BK Mag. “I’m speechless at the community and how they’ve come out. The way they’ve embraced us. Because you never really know. You work on something for so long, and you get so attached to it, but it’s been amazing. I don’t know what the future is going to bring, but it’s crazier than I anticipated.”

The opening also comes as some much-needed good news for Brooklyn’s vegan dining scene. In recent months, the borough has seen several closures, including the sudden shuttering of Toad Style in April, the loss of Red Bamboo in February, and the end of Modern Love in 2025.

https://vegnews.com/brooklyns-new-black-owned-nacha-focaccia 

Why veganism is a political choice, not just a diet

From veganfoodandliving.com

Is being vegan just a lifestyle? Here's why moving veganism into the political arena is essential for climate justice, public health, and systemic change

On the surface, veganism is often seen as merely a lifestyle choice, be that a health kick, a more ethical way of eating or even simply a food preference. But veganism should be about more than what we put on our plates. It should also encompass justice and the building kind of world we want to live in, now and in the future. This is why veganism needs to get political.

For many years, governments have talked about climate change, public health and social inequality, yet the role of food (especially the malign impact of animal agriculture) rarely makes it onto the political stage. If we want to tackle the multiple crises of our age, that silence is no longer sustainable, and veganism must move from the margins of society into the heart of political debate.

3 reasons why veganism belongs on the political agenda

There are three simple reasons veganism belongs in politics: the environment, human wellbeing and justice.

1. The environment

Animal agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and water pollution. Every serious climate strategy that ignores this is leaving a gaping hole.

2. Human wellbeing

Plant-based diets are linked to better health outcomes and could ease pressure on healthcare systems. Shifting subsidies from meat and dairy to fruits, vegetables and pulses would make nutritious, healthy food more affordable and accessible.

3. Justice

Beyond animals themselves, the system affects people. This includes farmworkers exposed to dangerous conditions, communities living near factory farms and those struggling with food insecurity in a world where vast amounts of crops are fed to animals rather than people.

Put simply, veganism intersects with almost every policy area governments say they already care about. Yet it rarely gets the attention it deserves.

                                                                                                             © Ladanifer/Adobe Stock

Why food policy is the key to biodiversity and health

One of the most compelling reasons to politicise veganism is the ripple effect. This is where policies aimed at reducing animal agriculture spill over into other areas, solving more than just one problem. For example:

• Climate action becomes credible when food is included alongside energy and transport
• Healthcare costs shrink as plant-based eating reduces risks of chronic disease
• Biodiversity rebounds when land is freed from intensive livestock farming
• Food security strengthens as crops feed people directly rather than being funnelled into factory farms

The philosophy of political veganism

Political philosophers Alasdair Cochrane and Mara-Daria Cojocaru argue that veganism should be seen as a form of political activism, not simply a lifestyle. That distinction is important because, when veganism is just a private choice, its impact is limited to individual consumer decisions. On the other hand, as a political choice, it becomes collective action and challenges systems that normalise and profit from persistent animal exploitation.

That shift in framing allows for imperfection. Few individuals can live in a way that avoids all harm, so when veganism is seen solely as a lifestyle choice, people often get stuck in endless debates about purity.

For example, people question if vegans should eat avocados, given their association with water-intensive farming and exploitative labour. And what about almonds, which rely heavily on migratory bee-keeping that harms bee populations? Or buying plant-based burgers from fast-food chains that make most of their money selling animal products? These questions all distract from the bigger picture.

A political understanding of veganism releases us from the impossible goal of moral perfection. It acknowledges that, in the world as it stands, some negative impact on animals is unavoidable. Crucially, it doesn’t excuse eating a bacon sandwich and still calling yourself vegan, but it does move us away from purity tests that risk dividing rather than uniting people.

What matters is not whether every individual action is flawless, but whether collectively we are pushing for systemic change. Joining boycotts, supporting campaigns and pressing governments to act are all ways we can give veganism real weight as a movement for progress rather than a checklist of personal choices.

4 ways governments can accommodate political veganism

Making veganism political is not about telling everyone to go vegan overnight, but about reshaping the structures around us so plant-based choices are supported, accessible and normalised. Here are four ways that government policy could make that happen:

1. Reforming public institutions

Imagine schools, hospitals and prisons routinely serving healthy vegan meals. Implementing policies such as Zack Polanski’s call for free vegan school meals by default would not only reduce costs and environmental footprints, but also demonstrate that vegan food is for everyone.

2. Ending meat and dairy subsidies

Right now, millions of pounds go into propping up the meat and dairy industries. Redirecting some of the finance into plant-based agriculture or alternative protein production would start to level the playing field.

3. Recommending plant-based dietary guidelines

National dietary guidelines and climate strategies should explicitly include plant-based diets. This recognition has the potential to legitimise veganism as part of mainstream policy rather than as a fringe idea.

This tactic has already seen success in Finland, where tofu sales soared after the country’s national nutrition guidelines were updated to recommend plant-based foods for their benefits to public health and the environment.

4. Investing in innovation and jobs

Supporting plant-based food industries creates new opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs and researchers. A just transition can ensure workers in animal agriculture aren’t left behind, but are supported into sustainable alternatives.

Why food policy is the key to biodiversity and health

One of the most compelling reasons to politicise veganism is the ripple effect. This is where policies aimed at reducing animal agriculture spill over into other areas, solving more than just one problem. For example:

• Climate action becomes credible when food is included alongside energy and transport
• Healthcare costs shrink as plant-based eating reduces risks of chronic disease
• Biodiversity rebounds when land is freed from intensive livestock farming
• Food security strengthens as crops feed people directly rather than being funnelled into factory farms

The philosophy of political veganism

Political philosophers Alasdair Cochrane and Mara-Daria Cojocaru argue that veganism should be seen as a form of political activism, not simply a lifestyle. That distinction is important because, when veganism is just a private choice, its impact is limited to individual consumer decisions. On the other hand, as a political choice, it becomes collective action and challenges systems that normalise and profit from persistent animal exploitation.

That shift in framing allows for imperfection. Few individuals can live in a way that avoids all harm, so when veganism is seen solely as a lifestyle choice, people often get stuck in endless debates about purity.

For example, people question if vegans should eat avocados, given their association with water-intensive farming and exploitative labour. And what about almonds, which rely heavily on migratory bee-keeping that harms bee populations? Or buying plant-based burgers from fast-food chains that make most of their money selling animal products? These questions all distract from the bigger picture.

A political understanding of veganism releases us from the impossible goal of moral perfection. It acknowledges that, in the world as it stands, some negative impact on animals is unavoidable. Crucially, it doesn’t excuse eating a bacon sandwich and still calling yourself vegan, but it does move us away from purity tests that risk dividing rather than uniting people.

What matters is not whether every individual action is flawless, but whether collectively we are pushing for systemic change. Joining boycotts, supporting campaigns and pressing governments to act are all ways we can give veganism real weight as a movement for progress rather than a checklist of personal choices.

4 ways governments can accommodate political veganism

Making veganism political is not about telling everyone to go vegan overnight, but about reshaping the structures around us so plant-based choices are supported, accessible and normalised. Here are four ways that government policy could make that happen:

1. Reforming public institutions

Imagine schools, hospitals and prisons routinely serving healthy vegan meals. Implementing policies such as Zack Polanski’s call for free vegan school meals by default would not only reduce costs and environmental footprints, but also demonstrate that vegan food is for everyone.

2. Ending meat and dairy subsidies

Right now, millions of pounds go into propping up the meat and dairy industries. Redirecting some of the finance into plant-based agriculture or alternative protein production would start to level the playing field.

3. Recommending plant-based dietary guidelines

National dietary guidelines and climate strategies should explicitly include plant-based diets. This recognition has the potential to legitimise veganism as part of mainstream policy rather than as a fringe idea.

This tactic has already seen success in Finland, where tofu sales soared after the country’s national nutrition guidelines were updated to recommend plant-based foods for their benefits to public health and the environment.

4. Investing in innovation and jobs

Supporting plant-based food industries creates new opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs and researchers. A just transition can ensure workers in animal agriculture aren’t left behind, but are supported into sustainable alternatives.

Promoting healthy plant-based food in schools and hospitals could have a major impact on food reform in the UK. Photo ©  AmpYang Images/Adobe Stock

Building a sustainable food system for the next generation

Fortunately, policies that link climate goals with dietary change and support farmers through the transition could be within reach. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Animal Welfare Strategy for England is said to be the UK’s most ambitious animal welfare reform in a generation, published in December 2025.

The comprehensive plan includes strategies for farmed animals, such as banning colony cages for hens and farrowing cages for pigs. Companion animals and wildlife will also benefit, with a ban on trail hunting and a crackdown on harmful breeding practices, among other proposals.

Perhaps most importantly, the government has pledged to work closely with charities, farmers, vets, and the industry to ensure the strategy’s recommendations are practical and deliverable, and that farmers are given enough time to adapt to reforms, making systemic change more realistically achievable.

Making ‘extreme’ vegan policies common sense

At the moment, calling for a plant-based transition at the government level might feel radical. However, we are currently witnessing a shift in the Overton Window (the technical term for the ‘window’ of ideas the public considers acceptable).

Political history is full of once-radical ideas that became common sense; universal healthcare, women’s suffrage and clean air laws are just a few examples. Veganism can follow the same path if enough people push the conversation forward.

Putting veganism on the political agenda isn’t about shaming individuals or demanding overnight transformation. Instead, it’s about recognising the urgency of the crises we face and mobilising the tools only governments can wield to combat them, which are legislation, regulation, funding and leadership.

The stakes have never been higher, with climate breakdown, biodiversity collapse, pandemics, food insecurity, and animal suffering becoming harder for the public to ignore. And they all intersect at our food systems. By politicising veganism, we aren’t just advocating for animals, we’re advocating for a healthier, fairer, more sustainable world.

https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/why-vegan/political-veganism-systemic-change-food-policy/