Saturday 16th June, Leeds Town Hall
I'd been thinking about attending this event for a while, and about a week ago, I saw an advert on their Facebook page asking for volunteers so I thought, why not! So at 7:50 on Saturday morning, I turned up at the town hall and met my fellow volunteers who were all lovely! We spent the next three hours (doors were at 10:30am) rushing about helping the stall holders set up, filling up the VIP bags, putting up signs, and other bits. I have volunteered for things in the past, and I would say this was the best experience I have ever had! The volunteers, organisers, and stall holders were all cheery (even during the rain!) and it was just a really positive atmosphere.
The layout of the event was really good. All the hot food was outside the town hall, which was nice as it meant people who didn't want to pay to go to the whole festival could still get some vegan food. The main room in the town hall was full of stalls selling non-edibles, such as clothing, candles, make up, perfume etc. Also on the main floor were a kids play room, another room with stalls, and there were some stalls on one of the corridors also. However, my favourite part of the festival was down in the crypt. This was where all the amazing bakery products were including cupcakes, fudge, cheesecake, and savoury pies! Sadly, I wasn't able to buy everything I saw at the festival, but I'll go through everything I had the pleasure of trying.
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Ananda Foods
The first stall I visited was the first stall you saw as you came into the town hall, Ananda Foods. Ananda specialise in gelatine free, vegetarian and vegan marshmallows, and had a wide array available for purchase! They were also running a 10% discount before midday, so I purchased two round-ups, which are huge vegan wagon wheels. I've had the original flavoured one before and it was delicious, so I got one of them and a salted caramel one.
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No Baloney
I then headed outside to the food stalls as I had eaten some toast for breakfast at 7am and not eaten since then. Before heading outside, I told myself I was going to browse the food stalls and not get the first thing I saw, but I couldn't resist! No Baloney were selling "Bubble n' Squeaky Mash" and "Hot Toasty 'Dog-Bite' Wraps" for £3 each, or a combo of one of each for £5.
No Baloney
I then headed outside to the food stalls as I had eaten some toast for breakfast at 7am and not eaten since then. Before heading outside, I told myself I was going to browse the food stalls and not get the first thing I saw, but I couldn't resist! No Baloney were selling "Bubble n' Squeaky Mash" and "Hot Toasty 'Dog-Bite' Wraps" for £3 each, or a combo of one of each for £5.
I got the combo and the food was incredible! The hot dog wraps were delicious, their home made sauce tasted just like pizza sauce. The bubble and squeak came with mustard, sweet chilli sauce, or their own chilli sauce. It was so tasty and buttery, you wouldn't be able to tell it was vegan. The whole dish was amazing and kept me filled up until my evening meal.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nobaloneyuk/ Instagram: @nobaloneyuk
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Cool Jerk Vegan Pies
Headed down to the crypt next to look at all the bakery items. Before turning vegan, I was vegetarian and obsessed with cheese. Whilst at university in Dundee I became obsessed with macaroni pies, so was ecstatic to find a Scottish vegan pie company!
I bought a macaro-nae-cheese pie which I re-heated and ate the next day. It was as comforting as the pies I used to eat up in Dundee, and I will definitely be trying their products again the next time I'm up in Glasgow visiting my brother.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoolJerkVegan/ Instagram: @cooljerkvegan
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Babbaloos Bakery
Whilst volunteering earlier in the morning, I had the pleasure of helping the two lovely ladies from Babbaloos unload all their delicious cakes. As a thank you, they were kind enough to give me a delicious piece of their peanut butter brownie. I ate it the next day and it was incredible. I thought it might be too rich or stodgy, but it was perfect.
Instagram: @babaloosbakery
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Wildcraft Bakery
Whilst in the crypt I spotted Wildcraft Bakery had a stall. I was already aware of their incredible vegan and gluten free cake range after trying some of their amazing creme egg cake at Easter time. I wasn't aware however that they did savoury food, so I picked up a samosa which I reheated on Sunday and it was just as delicious as their cakes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildcraftBakery/ Instagram: @wildcraftbakery
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Harper's Candles
I've been meaning to get another Harper's candle ever since I got one in a vegan kind box a couple of years ago. The two ladies working the stall were so helpful and helped me pick out my candle. I went for Daisy Chain in the end as I fancied a reasonably floral, but not too heavy scent.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harperscandles/ Instagram: @harperscandles
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Overall, I had an amazing day at the festival. All the volunteers, stall holders, and guests I encountered were super friendly, and there was just a really positive atmosphere during the whole day. To anyone considering going vegan, or already vegan and wanting to try new things, these festivals are a great place to go. This one was only £5 for a day ticket or £8 for the weekend (as some stalls were only there for one day), and although I haven't mentioned any above, there were lots of free samples including cake, bagels, cheese, and even Besos de oro (a vegan Bailey's alternative!).
I will definitely be volunteering at the next festival they run in Leeds. There is normally a Winter festival along with the summer one, all details will be available
at http://www.yorkshireveganfestival.com/ when announced.
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