A hotel in the beautiful northern countryside has become the first fully vegan hotel in England.
It’s not every day that plant-based customers can eat literally everything on a menu, but Beck Hall is now offering exactly that from breakfast until bedtime.
The beautiful 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, The Hoot reports.
In what’s a first for England, Beck Hall has shunned any hint of animal products in exchange for a completely vegan offering.
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’.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.”
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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.”
Featured Image – Supplied
Travel & Tourism
Plans approved for new safari lodges at Chester Zoo where visitors wake up next to giraffes
Emily Sergeant
You could soon be able to stay overnight in a safari lodge, and wake up to see giraffes and other animals roaming freely.
That’s right… it’s finally happening.
It’s been a very long time coming, but this week – after several years of waiting following plans first being hinted at in 2019, and revised plans then being unveiled back in June 2022 – Chester Zoo has now been given the highly-anticipated green light to build dozens of savannah-style lodges on a plot of its land that’s currently not being actively-used.
A total of 51 lodges have been approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning department as part of the ‘Grasslands’ development – with some of them set to overlook a lake, while others overlook an enclosure with free-roaming giraffes.
As mentioned, similar proposals to those that’ve been green-lit this week had been approved in 2019, but they had to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plans have been approved to build dozens of new overnight safari lodges at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
Revised plans were then submitted in 2022 for 63 lodges, but this was later reduced to 51.
On top of the reduction to 51 lodges last year, a number of changes also had to be made to the design of the development’s welcome building to make it “simpler” in response to rising costs, according to reports by CheshireLive and BBC News.
The approved plans include four types of lodges, all with a design based on traditional timber African safari lodges.
Alongside the 51 lodges, the Council’s planners have also approved a two-storey reception building with a bar and restaurant, an orientation lodge, and the groundworks for the all-important creation of a lake the development’s set to overlook.
Visitors will be able to wake up too see giraffes and other animals roaming freely / Credit: Chester Zoo
Given that the development is proposed for Green Belt land, this means it can only be built on if special circumstances are demonstrated, and other considerations also had to be taken into account by the Council’s planning committee too, such as the contribution the zoo makes to the local economy, and the benefits it provides to education and global conservation initiatives.
But the planners’ report stated that all those requirements had been met in the latest proposals submitted by the zoo.
“Taken together, it is considered that these considerations outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and amount to very special circumstances,” the report stated.
It then concluded that: “On balance, subject to the conditions set out below and taking into account the provisions of the development plan and all other material planning considerations, it is recommended that planning permission be granted”.
A timeline for works, and predicted project completion dates are set to be announced in due course, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
Travel & Tourism
Travel advice issued ahead of ‘really busy’ weekend with Barry Manilow and Manchester City playing next door to each other
Daisy Jackson
The new Co-op Live arena will really be put to its first big travel test this weekend when it welcomes Barry Manilow on the same day that Manchester City are playing next door.
Travel advice has now been issued ahead of what’s set to be a ‘really busy’ Sunday in the city.
Tens of thousands of people will travel to and from the neighbouring venues of Co-op Live and the Etihad Stadium for the two huge events.
TfGM has warned people to ‘leave plenty of time’ for travelling to either Barry Manilow’s gig, or to see Manchester City potentially scooping another Premier League title against West Ham.
It’s advised to use public transport and active travel to get to either venue, with parking at Co-op Live already sold out and a strict residents parking scheme in operation in the surrounding area.
And of course, ticket-holders for Barry Manilow do have free Metrolink tram travel included with their event ticket.
The free tram travel is valid for four hours before and after the show, and can also be used on post-event shuttle buses from Co-op Live back to the city centre.
As for Manchester City fans, a double tram service will be running between town and Etihad Campus before and after the match, and there’ll be a bespoke shuttle bus service to the city centre and 17 supporters’ bus services around Greater Manchester.
Credit: Unsplash, Jonny GiosCredit: Publicity pictureTravel advice has been issued as Barry Manilow and Manchester City events take place in neighbouring venues on the same day.
If City do claim their fourth Premier League title, the buses will leave later, at 7.15pm.
Public transport will be extremely busy before and after the events (and there’ll be some crossover with thousands of footy fans leaving the area as thousands of gig-goers arrive).
One of the most straight-forward ways to get to the area is just to walk, if you’re able to, with a new walking route laid out that takes around 35 minutes from town.
The step-free, well-lit, interactive walking route (also marked on maps as ‘CityLink’) is clearly signposted from Piccadilly Station and through the Ancoats and New Islington areas, with new light and art installations along the route.
Helpers will be on hand to support people as they make their way to and from the events.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at TfGM, said: “We’re expecting it to be a really busy Sunday with Barry Manilow in town and Manchester City on the brink of a fourth consecutive Premier League title – that’s why we’ve worked with partners on plans to ensure our transport network is as robust as possible on the day.
“We want everyone to have a great time and, would encourage those off to the Etihad or Co-op Live to use public transport for their journeys, or consider walking, cycling or wheeling as the best way to get to and from their destination.
“Planning and preparation for events such as this is done in great detail and there will be plenty of staff on hand to help and support people making their way to and from their destination.
“Enhanced bus and tram services will be in place and we will also be monitoring the network and providing up to date travel information so people’s journeys run as smoothly as possible.”