The top five easiest places to be a vegan in the UK, including Birmingham

Birmingham is the easiest place to be vegan in the UK - with 63 per cent of adults pleased with the range of plant-based options on restaurant menus.

A poll of 2,000 people, half of which were vegan, found 79 per cent of those in the Midlands city believe it’s important that local eateries provide a wide range of vegan options on the menu. And 65 per cent have seen an increase in plant-based foods in restaurants and cafes in the city during the last five years.

Manchester (62 per cent) and London (62 per cent) also love the array of alternative food options available on their doorsteps. Those in Manchester who don’t always follow a vegan diet still enjoy the most meat-free days - choosing to do so three times a week due to the health benefits (45 per cent). And 76 per cent of those who reside in the capital consider it important for food to have a low environmental footprint.

The research was commissioned by Viva! to launch its 50by25 campaign, encouraging restaurants to have half vegan options on their menu by the end of 2025.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “In the UK we’re lucky to have such a diverse range of eateries on our doorstep.

“It’s great to see some of the big cities in the UK leading the way when it comes to the number of plant-based options available as they are the most environmentally friendly option. For this reason, we want every restaurant across the UK from those in cities to smaller towns and villages to follow in these footsteps and make plant-based food options available to all.”

The top five UK cities for vegans

Birmingham (63 per cent) London (62 per cent) Manchester (62 per cent) Liverpool (60 per cent) Leicester (55 per cent)

Brummies want more vegan options

The research went on to find even though adults in Birmingham are among those with the most choice, 75 per cent still want more vegan options to pick from as well. And 63 per cent of those in Sheffield want more variety of plant-based food - as only 16 per cent are ‘very satisfied’ with what they have currently. Nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) of all respondents believe it is important to have plenty of vegan food in a city - 52 per cent of those cite it as being better for the environment.

The average omnivore has two meat-free days each week because of health benefits (36 per cent), wanting a lower environmental impact (26 per cent) and the fact it’s often cheaper (26 per cent).

Furthermore, 79 per cent of the entire group polled feel it is important restaurants limit their impact on the world through the food they serve. Even those who are non-vegans believe half of menus should be plant-based when eating out (22 per cent). And 52 per cent of everyone polled, via OnePoll, said they take the carbon footprint of a dish into consideration when ordering their food.

Viva!’s spokesperson added: “Sticking to a vegan diet has many benefits, but it’s encouraging to see just how many people identify it as being the most environmentally friendly option.

“Even having just one meat-free day a week can substantially lower your carbon footprint, so it’s great that the results show people are having two or more a week. In fact, choosing the vegan option can cut a dish’s climate impact by half compared to the meat equivalent while also reducing the impact on wildlife by half.”

“That’s why we have launched the 50by25 campaign to encourage restaurants to do their part.”