The number of people in the UK following a vegan diet has surged in recent years, as the UK market for meat substitutes is now the largest in Europe and worth more than 500m (450m), according to market and consumer data company Statista. While it was once tricky to find a specialised vegan restaurant, here in Manchester, those following a vegan diet can now pick from more than 50 dedicated meat-free eateries within five miles of the city centre.

The city paves the way for animal-friendly food, with restaurants offering everything from burgers and pizzas to kebabs. Sadly, the city said farewell to one of its pioneering vegan restaurants recently when Northern Quarter favourite V Rev closed its doors after 10 years serving up plant-based fast food.

But there are still a host of great places for hungry, meat-free Mancs. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of five of the best vegan restaurants in the city...

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This stalwart of the Arndale Food Market was founded by vegan entrepreneur Chelsea Campbell, who pitched her plant-based ideals on BBCs food investment show Million Pound Menu in 2018. The business has been going from strength to strength since being established in 2017, and opened a second location at Warrington Market last year.

After stuffing meat-free Mancunians in the city centre for three years, it closed up shop in August and moved its Arndale outlet to a brand new unit on Mirabel St, a stones throw from the AO arena. It serves up a packed vegan junk food menu of comforting mac n cheese, plant-based chickn bites and rotating seasonal small plates.

It boasts award-winning burgers, a brand new breakfast menu, and even plans to launch a vegan Sunday roast something of a rarity in the meat-free market. Last month, Wholesome Junkies was named the Plant Based Offering of the Year at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival.

4 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ / wholesomejunkies.com / 07551659112

Warrington Market, 2 Times Square, WA1 2NT

Ending a night out by indulging in a dner kebab is perhaps one of the classic staples of British culture. But for vegans, that is not always so straight-forward. Thankfully, Manchester is home to an essential stop for any kebab-craving Mancunian who needs to stuff their face after a few drinks in the city.

Situated on Back Turner in the Northern Quarter, What The Pitta was born from a secret family recipe for vegan dner, and provides insane meat-free kebabs heavy with toppings, as well as dner chip boxes. It also applies handy food labelling to calculate the carbon footprint of their dishes to help customers make climate-friendly choices.

The company was awarded Best Vegan Caterer at 2018s Vegfest Awards and its London branch named Best London Takeaway at the 2020 Kebab Awards 2020. It has also been featured on the BBCs Newsnight, The One Show and Channel 4s Sunday Brunch.

42 Back Turner Street, Manchester, M4 1FR / whatthepitta.com / 01618352934

This vegan pizzeria in the heart of the city opened its doors on High Street in the summer of 2021, and prides itself on its sustainable Neapolitan dining. The business opened its first branch in Brighton back in 2015, and claims to be the first vegan pizzeria in the UK.

In addition to classics including margherita and pepperoni pizzas, Purezza offers an innovative and mouth-watering breakfast pizza, topped with cheese, vegan pancetta, tomatoes, scrambled tofu, potatoes and vegan sausage. Their food is sustainably sourced and uses 'groundbreaking' plant-based cheese, with its restaurant even fitted out with recycled and refurbished materials.

Purezza was named 2018s National Pizza of the Year, and the following year was awarded Best Vegan Restaurant in the UK at the annual World Pizza Championships in Parma, Italy. No mean feat. It also has a specialised 'Dog Menu' consisting of several food and drink options for vegan pizza lovers who want to enjoy a taste of Italy without leaving their furry friends at home.

75-77 High Street, Manchester, M4 1FS / purezza.co.uk

Nestled in Oxford Roads food, drink and retail market Hatch, this vegan comfort food outlet offers a menu full of dishes inspired by a coast-to-coast American road trip. Founded in 2016, Herbivorous unique dishes include a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich with homemade beef seitan, Fried Chickn burger boasting 11 secret herbs and spices, and a range of loaded fries and wings.

Its Big Kahuna Burger should also be a must for any film fans wanting to channel their inner Samuel L. Jackson. As well as its impressive food menu, Herbivorous serves an array of classic and not so classic cocktails, including the Bees Knees Watering Can sharer, a floral gin cocktail which actually comes served in a bright watering can.

For students in and around the Oxford Road area, it also offers a discount of up to 35 percent on some of its best-selling dishes every Thursday.

Hatch, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED / herbivorous.co.uk / 07723117286

For vegans with a sweet tooth, Ice Shack is a dairy-free dessert parlour serving up an array of sweet treats including ice cream, milkshakes, cakes and pastries. Located a little further afield in Withington, it went completely vegan in 2017, moving from 75 percent dairy to completely dairy-free within a year of opening.

Its menu boasts more than 20 different flavours of ice cream, consisting of all the classics alongside their popcorn flavour, rainbow sugar rush and chocolate peanut butter cookie. For those with sensitive teeth, it also offers a range of delicious cakes, cookies and waffles.

Ice Shacks signature milkshakes all made with a choice of four dairy-free milks are the perfect way to wash down those delectable desserts. In an effort to do its part for the environment, the parlour has been created with 100 percent of its furnishings being either reclaimed, recycled or donated, as well donating 10 percent of all its annual profits to charity.

160-164 Wellington Road, Withington, M20 3FU / iceshack.co.uk

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Five of the best vegan restaurants in Manchester - Manchester Evening News