Veganuary is a hugely common way to start the year with thousands of people across the UK deciding to take meat out of their diets for the first month of the year.
A meat free diet offers health benefits as well as lowering an individual’s environmental impact, while some prefer to remove animal products from their diet simply for animal welfare purposes.
Whether you are trying veganuary this year or a plant based diet is something you are considering moving to full time, there are plenty of amazing sites across the North East offering incredible meals without the animal products.
As someone who has been vegetarian foe a few years now, let me take you through some of the best options I’ve found across the North East.

5. Sea Change
Cafe Sea Change in South Shields says its vegan saveloy dip has been attracting customers from across the North East. It is also a fantastic community spot which always offers a warm welcome. The brand is also preparing to open a new site in Sunderland in 2025. Photo: Frank Reid

6. Fat Hippo
With sites in Newcastle city centre, Jesmond and Durham, Fat Hippo is probably already known by many, but its meat free options are incredibly wide ranging for a group of restaurants which predominantly makes its trade with meat burgers. | Jason Button

7. The Naked Deli
With sites in Newcastle's city centre and Heaton, The Naked Deli is a top lunch spot with some amazing, nutritious meat free options. | Google
8. Mexico 70
For a range of inventive tacos, in both meat and vegan options, head to Mexico 70 opposite the Empire Theatre in Sunderland. It is rare for a vegan menu to be both as large and wide ranging as its meat counterpart, but the team do brilliantly to cater for meat free tastes. | Sunderland Echo