VEGANUARY may be over but one vegan café is doing all it can to keep footfall up well into the year.

The recently opened Green Apple Café and Bistro plans to expand its reach with extended opening hours, music nights and cooking classes.

The café, which became Stokesley`s first vegan café just four months ago, looks to open in the evening and on Sundays, hold regular music bistro evenings to celebrate local talent and host cooking classes, following a successful ‘vegan January’.

Successes surpasses vegan January

Amanda Farley, who founded the café with husband Andrew, said: “We were incredibly busy in January, during veganuary, busier than we thought we would be. But actually, December was our busiest month. What we are seeing is a huge shift from traditional ways of eating, and it’s mostly because people want to do their bit to help save the planet."

Mr and Mrs Farley have been plant based for 18 months and two years, respectively, for health reasons.

A change in eating habits

"Time and time again we are hearing that people love eating different types of food at The Green Apple and want to give veganism a go at home," Mrs Farley said.

“It’s proving a hit with more and more customers who want to either change their diet completely or cut down on meat consumption.”

The 48-year-old, who left her 20-year career as a psychotherapist to start the The Green Apple, had always dreamt of owning her own café. When encouraged by her mum, who passed away due to breast cancer, she decided to take the leap.

She said: “When my late mum was ill, she told me to go for it. So here I am, and it’s very exciting.

“We did not expect it to be so successful. I have been met with a little resistance but I just persuade them with samples. Most have embraced it and become regular customers.

"It was scary to leave my job after 20 years but I really believe in this and my food. I just wanted to create a menu where people wouldn’t think, vegan., instead with a chill café vibe that people of all ages would love.

“One of our customers who is cutting down on his meat intake, gave our black pudding a try and loved every mouthful. He was in a state of wonder as to how we had done it without using animal products.”

Vegan cafe with something for everyone

Beranice Semp, 75, is just one happy customer. Ms Semp, who has been vegetarian since she was 11-years-old, said: "It's great to have a vegan café in this area of North Yorkshire, especially for walkers and cyclists. It’s so lovely to have choice of food that is completely ethical.

“It has been a long time coming. We don’t expect people to go completely vegan or vegetarian but just cut down their meat consumption."