So long, and thanks for all the to-fish!

Update: having negotiated a deal with the landlords, Unity Diner has now reopened. 

News of a vegan restaurant taking the difficult decision to close its doors for the final time is always a body blow, with the most recently affected being Stem and Glory in Cambridge. But Unity Diner… truly, who saw that coming?

Unity Diner began in September 2018, and was formed by a group of activists, including vegan educator Earthling Ed, on a mission to make a positive impact on both the animals and on planet Earth. From day one, Unity Diner has been run as a not-for-profit restaurant, with all money going to Surge Sanctuary.

In January 2025 however, they emailed everyone on their mailing list to say: “Sadly, we’ve not been spared from the economic situation affecting the hospitality sector here in the UK, and with soaring costs since Covid and our landlords now wanting a rent increase this year, the time has come for us to call it a day.

“Restaurant closures are running at their highest level in more than a decade. A total of 1,409 shut their doors in the year ending September 2024, up from 1,180 in the 12 months before. The situation for hospitality in the UK at the moment is beyond anything we could have expected when we opened. We’re proud to have battled through it for so long. 

“However, although we share this news with heavy hearts, we are immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved over the last six years. We’ve served vegan meals to thousands of non-vegans and we’ve supported the sanctuary and the animals who live there.”

Of course we booked one final visit straight away, and if you’re reading this before February 1st 2025, you still have time to do so yourself. As a place to eat, it has always been appealing to vegans and omnivores alike. With a friendly staff and a welcoming vibe, as well as their cooked from scratch soul food (much of which has ‘fishy’ names, like lobster mac and cheese, crispy prawn tempura, or the restaurant’s popular signature dish, tofish and chips) Unity Diner is a great place to hang out, and meet up with friends or family.

Honestly, on previous visits we have rarely had room for dessert, but on this final occasion we made an exception. The crème brûlée is absolutely delightful; fragrant with vanilla, rich and creamy with a crunchy caramelised topping, it’s the ideal end to a meal. For one of our party who was absolutely stuffed to capacity after the umami-rich seared oyster mushrooms with kale crisps, a frothy matcha latte served the same function: a perfect finish to a poignant experience.

It’s not a total end to the project though. Sister restaurant No Catch down on Brighton seafront offers a great excuse for a day at the seaside.