It's become easier and easier to go plant-based, with nearly all restaurants, bars and cafes now offering up some sort of vegan option - but it's not every day vegans find themselves able to eat literally anything on the menu.
But a hotel in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales is now offering exactly that, turning its entire operation vegan.
In what's a first for England, Beck Hall has shunned any hint of animal products in exchange for a completely vegan offering, from breakfast through to dinner.
The hotel, which stands at the foot of the staggering Malham Cove, announced the news in October and launched its plant-based commitment in December last year.
They acknowledged at that time that 'some guests may be opposed to this change' but maintained that they wanted to 'showcase innovative, exciting and delicious vegan dishes'.
Owners Andy and Louise Macbeth took over Beck Hall a decade ago and turned what was a walkers' hostel into a stunning boutique hotel with cosy, traditional rooms.
Their menu now includes breakfast dishes like lox bagels made with cured carrot instead of salmon, scrambled tofu baps, and vegan pancake stacks.
There are plant-based Sunday roasts (mushroom Wellington or seitan roasts), and full traditional afternoon teas, complete with cashew cream-loaded scones.
And then Beck Hall's a la carte menu features everything from seitan short rib with hasselback potatoes to mushroom stroganoff pudding to vegan twists on pub classics.
Andy and Louise said their decision was driven by their own shift to a plant-based diet for their family.
They also assured their followers that nothing else about Beck Hall - its 'magical location, friendly staff, wholesome menus and dog friendliness' - would change a jot.
Their full statement on their shift to becoming a vegan hotel read: "Since taking on Beck Hall almost 10 years ago it has always been a place that has reflected us and our values. Beck Hall has thrived on these values, evolving into a special place loved by many.
"During this time, we’ve also been on a personal journey which started at a place of compassion for animals and eventually led our family to a plant-based / vegan diet. We also recognise the positive impact eating more plants can have on the environment and on health. We’ve never looked back.
"Our menus at Beck Hall are already around 50% plant-based and if you’ve ever tried our sticky vegan ribs you will know that plant-based food doesn’t have to mean compromise.
"Recently, we’ve been developing some of the most innovative, exciting and delicious vegan dishes we’ve ever tried, anywhere! We believe that our food, from breakfast through to dinner, is for everyone.
"We have so many loyal customers who love Beck Hall for its magical location, friendly staff, wholesome menus and dog friendliness and we want to reassure you that none of that is changing, if you give us a chance, I’m sure you’ll agree.
"We realise that some guests will be opposed to this change and that’s okay, we thank you for the times we’ve shared and we’re sure you’ll go on to find a new special place – there’s so many meaty menus to choose from. But wouldn’t it be boring if we were all the same!
"We hope you’ll support us in our new beginning and we look forward to welcoming back loyal guests alongside those new ones, who – like us – would love to visit a fully plant-based hotel offering the most incredible food, location and team.
"This isn’t a profit-led decision, if anything, it is a big step for our family, but the time has come for us to align our business values with our own."
One person wrote in response: "I’m not vegan but I will make a point of visiting now because this is a courageous decision and very different to everything else locally."
Another said: "We have visited and stayed at Beck Hall many a time, and love the place. As meat eaters who enjoy a veggie or vegan meal this will not stop us from coming back. It is a very brave thing you are doing and we applaud this. We were only talking yesterday about when to rebook, so we will look forward to our next visit to enjoy the new menu."
And someone else said: "I think it is great that you are aligning your business with your values even if some people don’t understand or agree. Not many people are brave enough to do this."
The moment you've all been waiting for has arrived, Pop Mart has opened on Briggate.
If you were one of the many who were swept up in the viral Labubu craze last year, then you'll know exactly what we're talking about.
But if you're not familiar, then allow us to fill you in.
Pop Mart is a Chinese toy chain famed for its huge collection of designer toys and collectible items, often attracting fans from far and wide who are prepared to queue up outside the doors before opening.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The brand is most famously known for stocking Labubus.
A Labubu is the name of the viral plush toy created by Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised designer Kasing Lung, who drew inspiration from his love of fairytales to make this worldwide cuddly phenomenon.
They have been flying off the shelves and even creating some controversy, with some shops refusing to stock them due to customers fighting over them in the streets.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The new Leeds store, located in the old Dune site at the top of Briggate, is as joyful and as colourful as you'd expect.
The shelves are stacked to the brim with all the blind boxes you could ever want, but we don't see them sticking around for long as punters were already queueing round the block hours before they opened their doors this morning, 30 January.
With Yorkshire Pop Mart fans now being able to grab their next collectable here in Leeds rather than trekking across the Pennines to Manchester, we've no doubt it's going to go down an absolute storm.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Peter Shipman, Head of Europe and Managing Director at POP MART, said about the opening: "Bringing POP MART to Leeds is more than just opening a new store; it’s a long-awaited thank you to our fans in Yorkshire, who have long championed our brand and products.
"Our arrival here was only a matter of time! We are thrilled to create a space that sparks joy for both longtime collectors and newcomers alike."
‘The pub that refused to die’ – reborn Leeds pub receives glowing national review by Jay Rayner
Clementine Hall
Food critic Jay Rayner headed to Leeds for his latest restaurant review for The Financial Times, with his sights set on one of the city's newest pubs - The Highland Laddie.
Having only opened in May last year, The Highland Laddie has practically received a stream of praise ever since.
From the team behind the beloved Empire Cafe, it's a pub unlike any you'll find in the city.
Charming interiors and cosy fires matched with stellar food that rivals that of any restaurant in the city, it's no surprise that The Good Food Guide rated the Laddie has the Best Pub in Britain for 2025.
And now Jay Rayner, one of the country's most rated critics, has jumped on the Laddie-loving bandwagon.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review is glowing in every aspect, stating that "The Laddie, as it’s now being called, answers all those miserable questions about whether a pub is actually a restaurant in disguise, by making them feel irrelevant."
After making himself comfortable, Rayner continues to order a myriad of delicious things off the menu.
"Some of the food is purely comforting", he remarks before claiming "the must-have is the lyrically described “Sliced ham from the fire, dinner roll, butter & mustard”.
"It starts with the delivery of a laminated mustard menu. There’s Colman’s or Taylors English, Grey Poupon wholegrain and five types of Dijon, among others. More restaurants should have mustard menus. We are pointed at the Händlmaier Sweet Bavarian, a jar of which is delivered to the table.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"It eases the cheek-pink slices of still warm, thick-cut salty ham on their way as I fold them into the sweet springy block of bread with its butter-brushed crust. It is a dish ripped gently from the pages of The Darling Buds of May and made heavenly reality."
High praise indeed from Mr Rayner who finds joy in his experience til the very end, "At the end, the bill comes with a couple of Fruit Salad sweets, a ’70s classic.
"It’s a shameless clapback to an imaginary back-in-the-day, for nothing then was ever as good as this. But let’s not quibble with wonky nostalgia. Let’s just celebrate a present which has found space for the Highland Laddie amid the high-rise clutter."
Daisy Jackson -
5th January 2024 
