Cardiff’s first Vegan restaurant has reopened this week in the heart of the city centre, surviving the cost of living crisis.
Cardiff’s first vegan restaurant goes from brick to trailer in attempt to survive the cost of living crisis as it reopens this week.
The vegan restaurant, Anna Loka, has cut down on expenditure by serving from a food trailer in the heart of Cardiff; saving costs on rent, front on house staff and utility.
Owner Aaron Wong said; “Cardiff rent prices are just so expensive now, and we couldn’t afford to pay unreliable staff. A lot of people will wake up and think I don’t want to go to work today and just won’t come in. Working in the trailer is much more time and money efficient, customers get the same food and we can save money”
Anna Loka aims to spread the message of vaganism to Cardiff and wider areas. Despite its closure earlier this year, the trailer continued to visit festivals including Bristol Vegan and Cardiff Bay Foodie Festival until they found their permanent home in the city centre.
Seven out of 10 small and medium companies are living in fear that escalating expenses could force them to shut down, according to The Parliament Politics.
Kai Sales, Aaron Wong’s Partner, said; “We wanted to make sure we reopened because we had a lot of loyal customers. People will travel from all over the UK just to have our food. At festivals people will just come to the festival for us”
Anna Loka’s menu has stayed the same as it was when it originally opened its doors in Roath in 2015; continuing to offer a mix of its vegan specialities including burgers, mac and cheese and seafood options despite now being run as a two person team.
Customer, Jake Jarome, said; “I came here a couple of times before it closed down earlier this year. I was quite disappointed when I heard about it was closing down as I wanted to try more of the menu. Veganism is dying so there is definitely a need for it in Cardiff. I’m really glad it has opened again.”