It would appear that not every Vegan in the world is peaceful.

Last Sunday me and a few friends took a trip to Brighton. Most of the day was spent spontaneously wondering along the shops and pier, but one thing we had planned ahead for was a roast dinner at a Vegan restaurant. This particular restaurant was recommended by a friend of a friend in London, and seeing as every vegan I’ve ever met has been friendly and cheerful I imagined this restaurant to have the same kind of feel.

However I guess not everything in life is so black and white. When we got there we found the only way to gain entry was by ringing the bell. It felt like a members only club for vegans, which felt a bit too exclusive to me as I am not a vegan.

We got inside to find a room full of strange looking people, some with skinheads and a few with long hair, but I don’t remember anybody with ordinary length hair. It didn’t seem friendly or welcoming in the slightest. Punk music played in the background and everybody had these symbols on their hands, which my girlfriend later informed me meant ‘straightedge’ meaning no meat, no alcohol and no drugs. Sounds pretty boring if you ask me.

We asked for a table for five, which was greeted with an odd look. Apparently in these places you find your own table without asking.
I sat down and noticed a few leaflets on our table. One of them mentioned anti-fox hunting, which was fair enough. After-all I can’t imagine vegans being pro-fox hunting, though at the same time if fox hunting was banned then alot of hunting dogs would be out of work. I guess that’s for another discussion.
There were also posters scattered around going on about pro-squatting. I hate squatters.
I then looked up on the wall and noticed a photo of a group of people posing wearing balaclavas, the few who didn’t wear one had their faces blurred out. This restaurant was clearly for hardcore militant vegans and I was tempted to leave. Even my girlfriend and our vegan friend found this place a bit too extreme. There was no 60s hippy love in this place, these were pure 21st century angry-vegans.

However we decided to stay and to be honest the food was actually quite good. It was a nutroast with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, peas and mushroom gravy. And even though I don’t like carrots, parsnips, peas or mushrooms gravy I still feel I ate a decent portion of food.

I haven’t mentioned the name of the place as I don’t want these guys to track me down and squat in my bedroom. Though if i keep a box of fried chicken by the door it might keep them away…