Print
Advertisement
The Founder of the UK’s biggest vegan restaurant wants to open a second branch.
Loui Blake opened three-storey Erpingham House in Norwich last year. Now he is eyeing Brighton – often considered the vegan capital of the UK – and raising funds via a crowdfunder.
Crowdfunding
The crowdfunder has now been launched, with the aim of raising £250,000, or 15 percent of the overall funds needed to launch the new project, as well as make improvements to the existing Norwich site. It is initially open to private investors and will open to the public on September 1 via Crowdcube.
Like the existing Erpingham House, the new outlet will specialize in vegan food, be entirely free from single-use plastics – using alternatives such as a paper or Vegware – as well as almost being 100 percent carbon-neutral once operational.
According to Blake, the new site will ‘have a refined offer which appeals to a more general audience, including those looking to incorporate more healthy dishes, organic produce and plant-based foods into their diets, rather than exclusively those who consider themselves to be vegan’.
‘Take it further’
“Five years ago, I was working in the city in a fast-paced marketing role, always on the go, when I suffered what many people in a similar situation do – Burn Out,” Loui Blake, Managing Director of Erpingham House, said in a statement sent to Plant Based News.
“It was then that I decided to adopt a plant-based diet, and travel the world, before bringing the foods and drinks I fell in love with to my home city.
“Since opening in early 2018, the response has been phenomenal, which is why we feel there is an appetite to take it further and look to pastures new. While our Norwich site will always be close to my heart, we have big plans for the Erpingham House brand, and I’m excited to see what the future brings.”
‘Can’t wait’
Shareholder, Russell Martin, added: “I’ve known Loui for many years, and was incredibly excited when he came to me with the idea of opening a vegan restaurant in Norwich.
“Now, I have the opportunity to help take the fantastic plant-based food that the team at Erpingham House create to my home city of Brighton, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
Once the funds have been raised, building work on the new Erpingham House Brighton will begin, with the aim of opening in early 2020.
