Across the UK, more and more people are embracing the vegan lifestyle - opting for plant-based meals over carnivore choices and feeling happier and healthier for it. And although the cost of living crisis was expected to negatively impact vegan eating habits, a study by Oxford University actually discovered that eating vegan reduces food costs by up to one-third.
As a result, vegan eateries are becoming increasingly common around the UK. And in Surrey, vegan restaurants are positively booming.
If you’re a vegan with a desire to start your very own cafe, this article is for you. Let’s discuss the rise of vegan cafes in Surrey, what’s causing this influx of healthy eating, and our top tips for launching a vegan startup.
What’s causing an increase in veganism across the uk?
Veganism is flourishing in the UK, and here are some of the reasons for its sudden rise in popularity:
Environmental and ethical food awareness
Due to the increase in social media usage and how easy it is to access information, people are becoming more aware of environmental and ethical issues surrounding food.
From how meat is farmed to the environmental costs of food transportation and packaging, we know more than ever about where our food comes from. This knowledge is driving many people to make informed food-based decisions that have an environmental and ethical focus.
Health awareness
Influencers are having a big impact on the uptake of veganism across the UK. Many people are choosing to explore a vegan lifestyle because their favourite Instagram celebrity is doing the same. Or perhaps they’ve seen the many health benefits of veganism and are keen to experience these for themselves.
Flexitarianism
Around 23% of the British public describe themselves as flexitarians, where they have reduced their meat consumption without eliminating it entirely.
As a result, many people are eating predominantly vegan diets during the week and consuming more meat on the weekends. Cafes and restaurants are having to keep up with the demands of flexitarianism by offering a wider range of choices.
Veganuary influence
Every year, the Veganuary campaign encourages people to try veganism for a month. In our opinion, Veganuary was one of the best vegan business ideas ever launched. And for all the reasons above—and many more—it has a huge uptake, with 25.8 million people taking part globally in 2025. In fact, many people use Veganuary as a way to kick-start their new vegan lifestyle.
Why are vegan cafes on the rise in Surrey?
Vegan cafes are positively flourishing on Surrey’s high streets, and with an estimated 59,500 out of a population of 1.1 million people in Surrey committed to veganism, it’s not hard to see why. But we still did a little research to find out the leading reasons for vegan cafes popping up in Surrey, and here’s what we discovered:
Local events
Culturally, the UK is doing a great deal more to engage with veganism and encourage people to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Surrey, in particular, hosts a variety of vegan-related events, with the Surrey Vegan Fair and smaller vegan markets often drawing large crowds.
Local events like these encourage people to try vegan cuisine, get an idea of the types of vegan products available, and understand their cost. This can often be enough to encourage people to try veganism on a day-to-day basis.
Innovative culinary options
Surrey is a foodie county. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Surrey has been at the forefront of vegan innovation for some time now. From cafes selling vegan pastries and cakes to restaurants cooking Instagram-worthy plant-based evening meals inspired by consumer favourites, there’s nothing Surrey’s vegan chefs can’t cook well.
Our top 4 tips for starting your own vegan restaurant
Now that you have the context behind veganism in Surrey and why it’s so popular, it’s time to explore how you might start your very own vegan restaurant in the area. Below, we share our top tips.
Understand the vegan cuisine locals are looking for
The first step to setting up a cafe that caters to vegans is to understand your target market and the kind of food they are looking for. For example, if a major portion of your audience is health and fitness-focused, they’ll probably be on the hunt for low-calorie, high-protein meals like smoothie bowls to enjoy with their friends.
Other vegans might be searching for comfort food like pastries and cakes, or be more interested in plant-based gourmet dining. Understanding what your audience wants is the key to launching a successful vegan cafe.
Top tip: don’t know what your audience wants? Join local vegan Facebook groups, attend community markets, sign up for wellness forums, and gather feedback from customer surveys. There might be a period of trial and error, but you’ll soon find what works best.
Make payments seamless
The payment experience in cafes can be a make-or-break for customer experience. Whether they’re grabbing a coffee to go or sitting down for an evening meal, customers should be able to pay with ease.
Using a coffee shop POS system lets your customers make payments with very little effort. This means they can pay quickly and easily while you reduce queues at the counter, improving the overall cafe experience.
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Focus on quality over quantity
We’ve all had the experience of viewing the menu at a restaurant only to be overwhelmed by choices. And it doesn’t always leave a great impression - surely they can’t do everything well!?
It goes without saying that the vegan scene in Surrey is especially competitive. So, if you’re planning to open a cafe here, you need a game plan. And it should prioritise a focus on quality over quantity.
What we mean by this is, focus on creating a few really excellent dishes from local, seasonal ingredients and do them really, really well. Offering a few options but making sure they look and taste amazing will help you build a great reputation with your customers, collect rave reviews (one of 6 great marketing tactics) and discover what your customers love. You can always build out from there.
Engage with the local community
People invest in cafes and restaurants that feel like a part of their community. While you might feel passionate about vegan food and excited to open your very first cafe in Surrey, it will be hard to get things off the ground if you don’t take the time to get to know the local community.
Hire out your cafe for events, get involved in local markets, have your say on Facebook groups, and be friendly to every customer who sets foot inside your cafe.
All these things help build your rapport with the local community. This endears your cafe to more customers and ensures you receive the support you need when times get tough (as they are bound to do in the rollercoaster world of cafe ownership).
Final words
Surrey often feels like the beating heart of veganism in the UK. And with so many great cafes and restaurants opening up that cater to a plant-based lifestyle, it’s no wonder.
We hope this article has provided you with some helpful tips for starting your own vegan cafe business in Surrey. By following our suggestions, we’re confident you’ll have a bustling vegan cafe business in no time.
