10/04/2026
Since we reopened a year ago this week, we’ve done everything we can to make Unity Diner success.
We’ve hosted sanctuary supper clubs.
Fundraised for charities.
Held brand launch parties.
Collaborated with brands and brought new, exciting products into the vegan space.
We’ve served 10,000+ vegan carveries.
Over 5,000 portions of our award winning tofu fish & chips.
And donated over £30,000 to Surge Sanctuary, entirely through our optional 50p donation scheme chosen by our customers.
You’d think we’d be thriving… right?
The truth is, we’re still struggling to stay afloat and things are incredibly tough, even with massive support from the community🥬
We wonder how some of the less well know vegan places stay in business, please support them all❤️
And to be clear, this isn’t because we’re a vegan restaurant.
This is happening across the entire industry.
Restaurants in the UK are operating with a 20% VAT rate on dine-in food, one of the highest in Europe.
In countries like France, Spain and Italy, it’s closer to 10%.
At the same time, 75% of independent hospitality businesses say a VAT cut is critical to survival.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Rising costs across the board, from increased business rates to higher National Insurance contributions, are adding even more pressure.
Prices we have to charge to try and make ends meet push customers away, and no body eats out as much as they used to.
This is bigger than us. It’s the whole sector.
And unless something changes, we’re going to lose more independent restaurants, more spaces, more communities.
So we’ve shared something important.
The article linked explains what’s really going on and includes a letter template you can send directly to the government.
If you’ve ever eaten with us, supported us, or care about independent restaurants existing at all, please take a moment to read it and add your voice.
Because this isn’t just about saving one restaurant.
It’s about whether places like ours get to exist at all.
Link in bio and via
Thank you for carrying us this far.
We’re still here. And we’re still here ❤️