AKA: how to support your local independent vegan-friendly businesses during the COVID-19 lock down
These are unprecedented times. As the webmaster of Vegan Edinburgh, I would never have thought I would be encouraging people to stay at home. But current UK Governments guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic means that we are only allowed out the house for specific essential reasons.
I’m gutted that I won’t be able to eat out at my favourite restaurants for the foreseeable future. But my disappointment pales in comparison to the sheer terror that the owners of Edinburgh’s small businesses must be feeling.
While most places in Edinburgh have shut their doors for the time being, some establishments are offering delivery or gift cards. Please consider supporting your local vegan-friendly businesses any way you can, even if you can’t physically pay them a visit.
My latest update has been boosted greatly by the information at edinburghlockdowneconomy.com. They have over 150 businesses listed, and it’s shaping up to be a great resource during these strange times.
The situation is changing all the time, and I will try to keep this page up-to-date. If you want to suggest any additions or changes, please drop me a line. At times like this, we need to band together more than ever.
Vegan-friendly delivery services
Easter Greens
4 Easter Road, Edinburgh EH7 5RG
Open daily 11am – 6pm (check Facebook page for most up-to-date opening times)
Being an essential grocery store, Easter Greens is open for business. You can go along in person to shop for your groceries, adhering to physical distancing guidelines of course.
Alternatively, you can shop ahead of time on their website and opt for same-day click and collect service. From Wednesday 13 May, there will be a delivery service available from the website that covers most areas inside the city bypass. Minimum spend for delivery is £35, with a flat delivery fee of £6. Cut off for next day delivery is 4pm.
The Vegan Sweetie Company
Get your sugar fix courtesy of the Vegan Sweetie Company. There are weekly deliveries to Edinburgh at the time of writing. A 1kg box of sweets is £10, plus £3 delivery. Payment accepted through PayPal or bank transfer. Drop them a message on Facebook to place your order.
The Doughnut Family
East Lothian based bakers The Doughnut Family are enjoying exceptional demand for their contactless vegan doughnut delivery service available in Midlothian, East Lothian and Edinburgh city.
At the moment, they are delivering around twice a week (usually Sunday and Thursday) and open up their order book a couple of days beforehand on their Facebook page. You can get one or two boxes of six doughnuts priced at £12 each and £3 delivery fee.
Previous flavours have included creme egg, chocolate glaze, salted caramel, cinnamon sugar, strawberry creme, custard-filled fudge and much more. But you’ve got to be quick – those delivery slots fill up fast!
Beetroot Sauvage (AKA Earthy Cheese)
Beetroot is back, baby! Just not as you know it. We all know that Marie-Anne does a kickass range of vegan cheeses, so she has branched off in these lockdown times to supply some of Edinburgh’s zero waste shops.
Earthy Cheese is now available at The Refillery and The Eco Larder, with more stockists hopefully coming soon.
And don’t forget, you can also still buy gift cards for Beetroot Sauvage on their website.
The Black Rabbit
Jump for joy! The Black Rabbit is re-opening on the 2nd June for take-away and click-and-collect orders. Get ready to be re-united with some of your Black Rabbit favourites, such as coffee, pastries, afternoon tea and deli items like their famous vegan cheese and speck. Follow them on Instagram to make sure you are kept in the know.
Vegan Tipples
Vegan Tipples is an online business which specialises in vegan-friendly wines and spirits. To help us through this strange time, they are offering free contactless delivery within a 10 mile radius of Edinburgh.
To take advantage of this offer, click ‘Collect at Store’ during checkout and leave your address, email and phone number. Vegan Tipples will shortly be in touch to arrange your delivery.
You can also get your vegan wines delivered to anywhere else in the UK, for a flat fee of £7.99 on orders over £40.00.
Considerit
In response to overwhelming demand, Considerit have started up their first home delivery service for Glasgow and Edinburgh. They are starting small with limited delivery slots, and intend to expand availability for future dates.
A box of six doughnuts costs £15 (including delivery) and you have the option to add-on Considerit Cream Egg bars or a carton of Oatly Barista milk.
As you can imagine, this is a really popular service, with delivery slots selling out within hours of being announced. Keep an eye on their Instagram or Facebook feed for announcements, and when more slots become available you can order online via their website.
Before you order, check their list of postcodes to make sure you qualify for delivery.
The Sly Fox
The Sly Fox and Rawsmary are two vegan Edinburgh street food stalwarts, but obviously with the markets currently being closed, they have moved their business online.
Every Tuesday they deliver a new menu of fresh food to your doorstep. Simply order at least two days in advance, pop your yummy food in the fridge when it arrives and consume within three days.
The menu changes every week, but previous offerings have included tomato & basil soup (£2.50), vegan goulash (£5.00) and chocolate & pecan cake (£2.50). You can see this week’s menu on their Instagram feed.
Minimum order value is £10, and delivery is free for orders over £30 or within a three-mile radius of their headquarters at EH15 1HY. Drop them an email (slyfoxfood@gmail.com) or a text (0754 232 5504) to order.
KaMa Vegan Bakes
Fancy a vegan homemade pie fix? KaMa Vegan Bakes are now delivering to your door! Their first deliveries will be on Friday 8 May to homes in Edinburgh. For £15 you get a selection box of four bakes, including: a vegan haggis pie; a no pork pie, a red wine and mushroom pasty, and a chickpea, butternut squash and vegan feta pasty (the selection will change from week to week). Drop them a DM on Instagram or Facebook to place your order.
The Plant Patisserie
This new Edinburgh-based vegan bakery is offering contactless pick-up and delivery on all cakes.
The Plant Patisserie’s cakes are all freshly baked, full of flavour and have absolutely no animal products. They look absolutely gorgeous too – check out their rainbow pastel dream cake to see what I mean!
treen
treen is a vegan and ethical fashion retailer based in Edinburgh. They’ve had to close their bricks-and-mortar shop for now, but their online store is still running and offers free delivery UK-wide.
As a thank you, they are offering 15% off all online orders (enter code FEELGOOD at checkout to redeem) and are donating 5% of all sales in April to Smart Works – a national charity that offers interview clothes and training to unemployed women in need.
New Norm
Getting nutritious, balanced meals is more important than ever at this time, and thankfully New Norm is on hand to deliver ready-made plant-based food to take the stress out of healthy eating.
Deliveries are currently restricted to Edinburgh and East Lothian (EH1 – EH42) and orders are shipped once a week (Friday) to restrict contact with the courier.
You can choose a Cleanse & Restore meal plan, covering three to eight days, or mix-and-match from yummy dishes such as coconut dahl, chickpea and cashew stew, and meatless ball marinara.
Evolve your Health
It’s easy to fall into a slump during these times, but Chris from Evolve your Health is still on hand to offer online support, such as personal training and plant-based meal plans. Simply fill in the website form to sign up for your first consultation.
Gogo Beets
165 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh EH15 1EU
GogoBeets has reopened for takeaway coffee, sweet treats, sandwiches and soup. Want a lunch with a difference? Try an indoor picnic bag with a sandwich, crisps, sweet treat and drink. Available for collection or local delivery.
Hendersons
Hendersons have re-opened their shop with shorter opening hours (10-2 Thurs, Fri and possibly Sat) and are offering home delivery. Their selection includes:
- Baked goods such as oatcakes, biscuits, cake squares and energy bites
- Loose goods such as flour, oats, ground cocoa, nuts, seeds and dried fruit
- Fresh goods such as dips and pesto
- Local fruit and veg bags
- Groceries such as plant-based milks, vegan cheese, pasta, tofu and chocolate, and much more
- Drinks such as beer, cider, wine and soft drinks
- Environmentally-friendly household essentials such as washing up liquid, soaps, shampoo, kitchen roll, cotton buds, tampons, toothbrushes, and much more
- Cooking kits
- Veg boxes such at the Sri Lankan beetroot curry pictured
- And coming soon! Chilled dishes such as lasagna trays, haggis, cake loaves, bread and much more.
Browse their full list of products on the website, then place your order by emailing shop@hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk, calling 0785 2901 299, or by dropping them a message on Facebook or Instagram.
Deliveries must be over £35.00 to qualify for free home delivery.
Brochan
Now you can get Brochan’s goodness and grains delivered to your door! Elaine is doing weekly deliveries, and options include granola, overnight oat kits, vegan spelt scones and freshly squeezed orange juice – perfect for a lazy weekend brunch! Follow Brochan on Instagram and send them a message to place your order.
Good Food Health Store
Good Food Health Store is still open and serving the community. Call in your order to 0131 452 9020, and collect outside their shop between 2pm and 4pm Wednesday and Friday.
NovaPizza
In case you weren’t aware, NovaPizza is the best vegetarian Italian restaurant in Edinburgh’s New Town. If you are craving a comforting bowl of pasta or a slice of pizza, they’ve got your back. And of course, most of their menu can be made vegan.
Due to the situation at the moment, NovaPizza is now takeaway only, but if you are in the New Town / Stockbridge area, you can get vegan pizza and pasta delivered through their Deliveroo page.
If you are able to collect, give them a call on 0131 237 5695. You will be given a delivery time when they will be waiting at the front door of the restaurant with your order.
Rose Theatre Café
204 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 4AZ
After a brief hiatus, the Rose Theatre Café is back and serving sweet treats such as vegan cinnamon rolls and coffee from a hole-in-the-wall style setup. Keep an eye on their social media for more details and opening times.
Nourish@
Nourish@ is back up and running with weekly delivery of healthy main meals, salads and sweet treats. Many options are suitable for vegans and gluten-free.
Check their Instagram for the weekly menu, and drop them a DM to place your order.
Hanover Healthfoods
40 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 2DR
Open Monday – Friday, 10am – 3pm (check website for most up-to-date opening hours)
Hanover Healthfoods is currently open for business. Orders can be placed by phone or email and either posted, delivered or collected.
If you visit in person, you will find a strict limit on people in the store and a sanitisation regime in place. Parking in the city centre is currently free, so it is easy to drop by for larger orders.
Edinburgh residents can get their orders delivered for £5.00. Place your order before 1pm for same-day delivery. Find out more via Hanover Healthfoods website.
Real Foods
Health foods stores Real Foods are still open and serving customers at their locations in Broughton and Tollcross. 10 customers are allowed in at a time, and everyone is expected to observe the 2 metre social distancing rule. To make things easier, they have published store floor plans on their website so you can plan your trip.
You can also order online – but bear in mind that your order might take a wee bit longer than normal during this busier time.
BBL
Famous for their vegan sausages, burgers and fry-ups, BBL are now doing home deliveries of Vegan Boxes – available in Family (£45.00) and Mini (£22.50) size.
The box contains everything you need for a decent fry-up, and more! Each one contains vegan sausages (both link and lorne), burgers, bacon, a vegan roast, potato scones, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and a carton of soya milk.
Quantities vary depending on what size of box you buy. Both boxes come with instructions on how to cook your goodies so you get perfect results every time.
To place an order or find out their next delivery dates, simply drop them a message on Facebook.
New Leaf Co-op
To tackle the coronavirus pandemic, New Leaf Co-op are no longer accepting walk-in customers but have set up an online order and collection service.
Visit their website, place your order (minimum value £15), then pop along and collect at the shop.
If you have a small shop (under five items), you can just head along and order these over the counter.
Roots
Roots are currently offering fresh fruit & veg, basic groceries superfood powders and motivational books for delivery or collection.
Take a look at their stock on Facebook and email munch@rootsedinburgh.co.uk with your name, phone number and delivery address to place your order.
Deliveries are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and cost £4 up to three miles from EH3 7NH, or £7 within six miles. Collection is also available Wednesday and Saturday 10am – 1pm.
They are also doing a pay-it-forward campaign, delivering food to those who need it most. If you want to contribute or know of someone who could do with a helping hand, drop an email to Roots.
From Tuesday 12 May, Roots will be increasing their offering to include a weekly salad menu, soup menu and healthy ready meals for your freezer, available for collection and delivery.
They will also be open for takeaway coffee, sweet treats and groceries from Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am – 12.30pm (with strict social distancing measures in place).
Bellfield Brewery
Edinburgh’s Bellfield Brewery specialises in vegan and gluten-free beer. Craving your Bellfield fix? Thankfully you can order online with 48-hour mail delivery or contactless collection from their brewery in Abbeyhill.
Union of Genius
Union of Genius are bringing their famous wholesome soups to your door! They have a new delivery menu every week, and roughly half of the options are vegan friendly. Keep an eye out for mouth-watering meals like vegan chilli and lentil soup.
You’ll find their latest menu on their Facebook page.
Bross Bagels
Bross Bagels have taken their famous bagel offering online to Bross Deli.
Order your bagels in multiples of six – any that you don’t eat, you can slice and pop in the freezer to toast later. Then order your fillings from the vegan deli so you can recreate the perfect Bross experience at home.
This service is available throughout Edinburgh and Musselburgh, and the rest of East Lothian on a Monday. Minimum order is £20 and includes free home delivery. Order before 5pm to get your order for the next again weekday (e.g order on Monday for Wednesday delivery, Tuesday for Thursday delivery, etc…).
@Pizza
Vegan pizza is the ultimate comfort food and thankfully @Pizza are on hand for all your home delivery needs. Build your pizza from scratch, and @Pizza will deliver to your door through Uber Eats or Just Eat. Or you can order ahead and collect in-store.
Roeder & Bell
Roeder & Bell are a small Edinburgh company that has managed to launch and thrive during these strange lockdown times. Their food box delivery service allows you to discover global flavours while celebrating local producers.
They have a vegan box, which starts at £40, and includes a selection of fresh fruit and veg along with deli items from local suppliers. You can also top-up your box with other items from their pantry shop. Of course, the selection changes with seasonality, so check their website for the latest items available.
Taza in Town
69 Bread Street, EH3 9AH
Taza in Town is open and delivering Syrian & Levantine cuisine during these lockdown times and beyond!
They have a mouthwatering menu, with vegan options clearly labelled. The Mana’eesh (pizza) bases are vegan friendly and come in a range of toppings, including Za’tar Mana’eesh which is a flat dough topped with thyme and seven other Syrian herbs with olive oil and baked in a stone oven.
You can see their other vegan dishes on their menu, which they have posted on Facebook.
Gift cards, merchandise and other support
While the following places have closed their doors for the time being, there are still ways you can support them. You can buy gift cards for later, treat yourself to some funky merch or contribute to community crowdfunders. Here are some of the options available:
| Establishment name | Support options |
|---|---|
| Seeds for the Soul | Gift cards |
| Pumpkin Brown | Eco boxes & gift cards |
| Harmonium | Crowdfunder |
| Lucky Pig | Gift cards & merch |
| Grams | Gift vouchers and Pay-it-Forward |
The above information is correct at the time of last update (6pm Monday 25 May) but the situation is changing all the time. Please send additions and suggestions to emma@veganedinburgh.com.