The Courier's plant-based guide to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

It’s not every day you pull up the roots and move to a new town, and that can be even more intimidating when your lifestyle choice won’t allow you a kebab after 3 hours at Soho. You don’t want to end up in the wrong place and be left poking at a demoralising slab of mush, but fear not. Newcastle is as rich in plant-based food as it is in bridges - you’re in the place that invented the vegan sausage roll, remember.

From budget to bougie, the North East’s cruelty-free scene puts the myth that veganism is exclusive to London and Manchester right to bed. Here are some of our favourite spots:

Waitrose, Osborne Road.

Oof, rough start, but trust me. The tough fact of plant-based life - that most people don’t eat like us - has its benefits, and who are we not to take advantage? Tucked away in a little corner of the store, Waitrose’s vegan section doesn’t sell particularly well – who’d have thought Jesmond’s rugby lads weren’t keen on Quorn.

Waitrose is, obviously, not your best choice for a budget shop, but with vegan produce often going unsold on Osborne Road, you’ll find plenty of deals and reduced stickers that can make your shopping seriously cheap. Plus, £1.90 for tofu, not bad.

Khai Khai, Quayside.

The place that gave Gordon Ramsay himself “one of the best curries” of his life – Quayside’s finest Indian restaurant really earns the TV chef’s description as “f*cking incredible”. Despite trademarking the Beef Wellington and eating more meat than a Tudor monarch, Ramsay will have no doubt been impressed by Khai Khai’s extensive vegan menu.

Smoked aubergine, a Korma made with cashew nuts, or a spicy mango salad – every dish is authentic, complex, and mind-blowingly good. It takes some serious skill to have a broccoli dish be the best thing on the menu, but oh my word do they pull it off.

Greggs

We’re in Newcastle, aren’t we? The post-night out cravings are a little harder as a vegan, and I don’t think Bigg Market Chippy stocks tofu. One thing you can trust, though, is Newgate Street Greggs’ beautiful 24-hour, round the clock vegan steak bakes. Open until 4am on every day bar the Sabbath, you’ll never have to go home from Cosy Joes hungry again.

Scream For Pizza, Sandyford.

“Don’t you miss pizza? Don’t you miss cheese?” You’ve probably heard this about 3,000 times, I know I have. Vegan ‘cheese’ has come a long way over the years, but can still feel a little depressing on a Pizza.

Some opt for a Marinara – just tomato sauce and olive oil, but the real crown jewel of vegan pizza is the Truffle Shuffle at Scream For Pizza in Sandyford. It’s everything you could possibly want out of a pizza, without any animals having to suffer.