Over the last few years, it’s become harder and harder for restaurants to stand out. Serving amazing food and drink, for many, isn’t enough anymore. There needs to be more going on under the hood.
With various nut-based milks being cancelled for ethical reasons, not to mention Nutella and avocados, it’s clear that people really care where their food is coming from. In fact, according to a survey by YouGov 58% of UK shoppers are happy to pay extra for more environmentally-friendly products.
Supermarkets are also taking the hint. The Co-op now offer soft plastic recycling, something not available elsewhere in the UK. And the same goes for restaurants and bars. Today’s restaurant-goers - especially younger generations it would seem - are more interested in farm-to-fork than foie gras.
The pandemic has only fueled this trend. Many restaurants had to get pretty inventive to stay afloat over various lockdowns, opting to contribute to some truly heartwarming community projects and social enterprises while they were forced to close their doors. For these establishments, it’s more than marketing. They show a genuine passion for helping their local community.
One area in which the hospitality industry is making a big difference is supporting those who have been affected by homelessness, with many cafes offering free hospitality programmes and employment training.
Other community outreach projects are a bit whackier. Florentine in Waterloo started keeping bees on their roof and Brixton Brewery hosted a ‘Bring Your Nan for a Can’ event. These endeavours don’t just help the local community and tick off a corporate social responsibility checklist, they also allow for a demonstration of true creativity - something that is hard to fake.
We’ve collected our favourite examples of charitable restaurants that give back to their communities from around the UK. Each entry is doing something different to help their local area. Strap in for a seriously wholesome read with some top food highlights peppered in for good measure.
Fenchurch, The City
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This lofty jungle boasts stunning views, but behind the glitz and glamour is a real social enterprise. The building’s charitable ambitions are spearheaded by the 20 Fenchurch Street Legacy Fund. The fund cleverly combines resources from the building's owners, residents, contractors as well as donations from visitors to the Garden. These donations are then awarded to local charities working to tackle the high unemployment rates across the East End.
Where: 1 Sky Garden Walk, EC3M 8AF
Book now: Fenchurch
Peppe, Kingston
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Giuseppe “Peppe” Prestigiacomo is on a mission to not only bring authentic, Sicilian pizza to the UK but to help his local community too. Every year, Peppe and his team grab stands at local fairs, making fresh pizzas at them to help raise money for struggling state schools. And they don’t stop at schools. The team are constantly popping up all over London to help out with community events. You can stay up to date by checking out their Facebook page.
Where: 174 Tudor Drive, KT2 5QG
Book now: Peppe
The Brigade Bar + Kitchen, London Bridge
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Located in a former fire station, The Brigade Bar + Kitchen is making a difference in a whole host of ways. The team runs six different programmes that those who have experienced or been at risk of homelessness can enrol in. Each programme offers a different flavour of education, from nutrition to employment. Brigade apprentices have gone on to work at restaurants like The Savoy, so we think it's fair to say they must be doing something right. Everyone can get involved: you can attend the Feast with Purpose supper club, host an event yourself, or share your skills with their apprentices.
Where: 139 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ
Book now: Brigade Bar + Kitchen
Blacklock, various locations
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This classic London chop house is making an effort on all fronts. Aside from donating their meal kit profits to the chairty End Youth Homelessness over lockdown, they also work with Ecologi to plant trees in the UK and Africa. These efforts aim to support the regeneration of wildlife habitats and make Blacklock a climate positive establishment. So far, they have planted over 10,000 trees and show no sign of slowing down.
Where: 24 Great Windmill Street, W1D 7LG; 13 Philpot Lane, EC3M 8AA; 28-30 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DZ; 16a Bedford Street, WC2E 9HE (opens 7 Feb)
Book now: Blacklock
The Clink, Brixton
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The Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton is truly unique. All its meals are cooked and served by the prisoners who are working towards their City & Guilds NVQs in Food & Beverage Service, Professional Cookery and Food Hygiene. Not only this, but the setting also allows incarcerated men to engage with the public, helping them prepare to re-enter society. The quality of the food and service has earned The Clink Restaurant numerous awards, including our very own bronze award.
Where: HMP Brixton, Jebb Avenue, SW2 5XF
Book now: The Clink (please note The Clink is temporarily closed at time of writing)
The Black Bull, Gartmore
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The Black Bull doesn’t give back to the community, so to speak. Instead, the community gives back to it. In 2019, Gartmore’s 350 residents pooled together and purchased the historic inn to save it from disrepair. Now the Black Bull offers locally sourced seafood and a true sense of village pride.
Where: Black Bull Gartmore, Main Street, FK8 3RW
215 Hackney, Hackney
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Cemal and Ali, two best friends and Hackney residents started 215 Hackney to provide the local community with delicious Middle Eastern food. They have since partnered with WarChild UK, a global charity that seeks to help children affected by war, and donate 20% of their profits to them. On top of this, they are constantly fundraising for the NHS in a variety of ways.
Where: 215 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 0LH
The Dusty Knuckle, Dalston
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This playfully-named bakery does more than next-level baked goods. The Dusty Knuckle Dalston is also helping young people who are struggling to find a job. They offer work experience and provide classes in food and baking in local schools and youth clubs. These baking classes are also open to the public, so you too can learn the ways of the dough.
Where: Abbot Street Car Park, E8 3DP
Brixton Brewery, Brixton
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Brixton has always been a hub of community spirit, and Brixton Brewery is no exception. The list of social projects is seemingly endless, from selling all excess brewing yeast to the public and donating all the profits to their local food bank, to the ‘Bring Your Nan for a Can’ event, where anyone who brought someone over 60 for a chat got a free can for their companion. The BB team even ran a ‘Pay by Neigh’ campaign in partnership with Vauxhall City Farm, where customers could pay for a beer with animal noises.
Where: Arch 548 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PF
Looking for the next big thing in the capital? Check out our guide to the best new restaurants in London.