Time to Kale it a day? Vegetarian cafe introduces MEAT onto the menu after customers complained about the choice on offer

•  The £2.4million eco-hub has previously been branded a ‘council vanity project’

A council has been forced into a U-turn on a vegetarian cafe at a controversial eco-education hub after hungry diners demanded meat.

In keeping with its green message, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council imposed a vegetarian-only menu for the food kiosk at its Environmental Innovation Hub. 

It sold vegetarian sausage rolls, steak-less pasties and vegan cakes among other ethical eats. But following feedback from customers, the council has now revised the menu to include meat.

The £2.4million hub on Bournemouth seafront was built out of recycled materials collected from the sea to highlight plastic pollution. 

To make way for the hub a row of beach huts had to be removed in 2020 – a move which angered the hut owners who were given nowhere else to go.

The Environmental Innovation Hub (pictured), which cost Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council £2.4million, now has a meat option on its menu following customer complaints 

BCP Council has been forced into a U-turn on a vegetarian cafe at a controversial eco-education hub after hungry diners demanded meat 

The beach huts which had to be taken down to make way for the £2.4million hub on Bournemouth seafront

The eco-hub has previously been branded a ‘council vanity project’.

Members of the public said it is only right the council offers both meat and vegetarian options.

Daniel Parkin said the hub was a ‘complete waste of money’.

‘Beach huts knocked down to build this disaster – again another ego project costing millions and residents saying we didn’t want it. Hardly seen anyone using it when we’ve walked past,’ he wrote on Twitter. 

Independent councillor Stephen Bartlett said the council’s initial decision to not offer a meat option ‘seemed odd’.

‘We want to encourage people to go in there and the vast majority are not vegetarians,’ he added.  

Resident Dave Smith said: ‘If there was a cafe serving meat only options there would be an outcry.

‘It’s a beach cafe catering for a lot of different people. In a beach location cater for the masses.’

A council spokesperson said: ‘When we launched in February 2023, the catering manager made some well-considered menu decisions based on data and trends.

Members of the public said it is only right the council offers both meat and vegetarian options at its new eco-hub 

An artist impression of the council’s ‘Environmental Innovation Hub’ before it was built  

‘We served milk-based ice cream, homemade vegan cakes and a selection of vegan pasties.

‘The biggest request on the comment cards for the first three months was for a meat option.

‘At this flagship kiosk we pilot different ranges to find what customers prefer with both food and drink on offer and sustainable options, and the offerings for both will continue to evolve in line with customer feedback.

‘The emphasis on being an environmental building comes from our desire to reduce waste, specifically, rather than as a reflection of our menu.’

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