"You’ve heard of Curry Mile - this is Veggie Mile": The South Manchester suburb that’s packed with plant-based eateries
Just over 10 years ago, there seemed to be a lack of life in the South Manchester suburb of Withington. Bumping shoulders with student-centric Fallowfield on one side and posh’n’pricey Didsbury on the other, the commercial centre of the village was a mishmash of charity shops and barbers.
Nowadays, the chazzas and the barbers are still there, but there’s a new bread of cafe and eatery that’s made the spot a must-visit for veggies and vegans. And the sense of community that is building in Withington shows that these independent businesses are doing something very right indeed.
Travelling along Wilmslow Road out of the city, the vegan dessert and ice cream bar Ice Shack sits off to the right on Rutherford Square - beside the Carnegie-funded Withington Library. It’s a spot that has become something of a pilgrimage for vegans eager to dig into stunning cakes - in flavours like Funfetti and Biscoff - and indulge in dairy-free ice creams like Peach Melba and Blueberry and Lavender.
READ MORE: Restaurant issues ‘cry for help’ and customers react in a true Manc way
Owner Leah Newton makes all of the bakes and vegan treats from scratch and said that she’s thrilled about the response to her dairy-free offering and the boon of other veggie and vegan openings in the area.
"You’ve heard of the Curry Mile - this is the Veggie Mile," she joked. "I’m not here to change hearts and minds, I’m just here to give people tasty ice creams.
Ice Shack opened in 2016 as a vegetarian ice cream and sweets parlour under a previous owner, but in April 2017 it transitioned to all-vegan.
Leah said: "It was only about a month after I went vegan myself and I was a dedicated customer for five years before buying it. I always joke that we are the