By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
Business partners Bhavani Baumann and Sacha Joannou are set to launch Australia’s first vegan pub bistro offering next week, in the inner west Sydney suburb of Rozelle.
The Green Lion, as the pub offering has been named, has taken over the first floor of Rozelle pub, The Red Lion. The menu will cover vegan versions of traditional pub food, with everything from burgers, pies, nachos, bangers and mash, and ‘not dogs’. The offering will also include vegan wines and beer.
Baumann and Joannou are looking to cater to the growing population of Australians who are opting for vegetarian and vegan diets, while still providing a traditional pub experience. A recent study from Roy Morgan Research suggests that Australia’s vegetarian population has grown from 1.7 million people in 2012 to 2.1 million in 2016. The growth is particularly apparent in New South Wales, where the vegetarian population has grown by 30 per cent in the last four years.
Baumann suggests that the aim behind The Green Lion is to provide alternatives to the meat-focused fare of most pubs.
“The Green Lion mission is to honour humans, animals and our planet by providing tasty and wholesome plant-based food in a comforting, inspiring and inclusive pub environment. We encourage conscious eating and aim to provide the high quality food at great value for money.”
Joannou concurred, adding: “We believe in supporting people who are making conscious choices with their food, want to challenge the idea of what a beer and burger can be and break the stagnant and outdated mould of the Aussie pub bistro. At the end of the day, we are opening a pub bistro that makes eating well, affordable and easy, and serving food that we will like to eat.”
Entertainment will also be included in The Green Lion’s offering, with Sunday raffles and live music. Vegan cooking classes are also being considered.
The Green Lion will open on Saturday 17 September.