Eats

Vegans banned from celebrity chef restaurant for ‘mental health reasons’

The Hoot The Hoot - 21st June 2023

The Great British Menu chef has told vegans they are not welcome anymore.

A famous chef has caused a stir online for deciding to ban vegans from his restaurant after a customer complained about their meat-free meal.

UK-born chef John Mountain - who has appeared on TV cooking shows like Great British Menu and Chef Race UK v US - has decided to take on the entire vegan community after receiving a relatively mild-mannered complaint, reports The Manc.

Taking to Facebook, the celebrity chef said that he had made the decision 'for mental health reasons', writing: "Sadly all vegans are now banned from Fyre for mental health reasons. We thank you for your understanding.”

He explained: “A young girl reached out to me and said she was coming to the restaurant and asked if there were vegan options.

“It was my only shortfall. I said I would accommodate her, I said we had gnocchi, vegetables… and that was that.”

However, after offering to accommodate her it transpires he swiftly forgot about the customer's needs - blaming his forgetfulness on being distracted by catering for a private party.

He explained how this, in turn, led to his sous chef fuming at him for “not telling them about the vegan customer.”

Ultimately, because of this, the vegan customer was given just one option - a “vegetable dish” costing $32 which she later described in an online review as “okay but not that filling.” 

Her feedback continued: “I think it’s incredibly important nowadays that restaurants can accommodate everyone and to not be able to have actual plant-based meals shows your shortcomings as a chef.

“I hope to see some improvements in your menu as I have lived in Connolly for quite some time and have seen many restaurants come and go from that building and none of them last.

“If you don’t get with the times, I don’t hold out faith that your restaurant will be the one that does.”

In response, Mr Mountain went in all guns blazing - having taken some offense at her polite feedback.

'As for vegans/vegetarians being a very low minority, especially in the northern burbs' I try to accommodate everyone else,' he posted on the restaurant's page.

'Thanks for your negative review… please feel free to share your s**tty experience and I look forward to not seeing you again.

'How very childish.

'You and all your vegan mates can all go and enjoy your dishes in another venue. You are now banned.'

He then reiterated the ban with a further post on Google Review, which read: "But if you beautiful vegans want to join together and slag off my business then good luck, keep going, let's see what my customers think.

"And from now on ALL Vegans are now banned from my restaurant. Thankyou for your disgusting review and please enjoy the Currambine. Xx"

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Johnnie Mountain runs the Fyre restaurant in Perth, Connolly.

Featured image - Johnnie Mountain / Fyre Restaurant

Eats

Big name restaurant closes Leeds city centre site after seven years

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.

Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.

The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.

The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.

Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.

It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.

This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.

Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.

“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”

The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds



Eats

Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.

Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.

Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in. 

Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.

Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.

The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.

While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.

Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.

The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.

If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.

Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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