A POPULAR vegan restaurant is closing its doors to undergo renovations and 'to offer the Taunton community new and exciting options' the restaurant is introducing meat dishes.
Last week, The Mango Tree Taunton confirmed it will be closing its doors on Saturday, September 3 to undergo the renovations and an updated menu.
The restaurant said: "In the near future, our restaurant will be undergoing an exciting period of change, as we re-imagine ourselves to offer the Taunton Community new and exciting options to dine in and takeaway.
"All in the same location and with the same team you know and love!"
The reason to make the change to meat and vegetarian dishes wasn't an easy one to make for the restaurant, as they explained.
"In the new restaurant we will be serving a variety of dishes to accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs and preferences.
"Hospitality is increasingly tough and continuing as a purely vegan restaurant has not been sustainable for a considerable amount of time as not enough customers supported us.
"The changes will allow us to secure the jobs of our wonderful team and allow us to continue offering Taunton delicious plant based dishes that would otherwise have disappeared."
The news has been met with some backlash from fans of the restaurant.
One person said: "This is a massive shame. It's been amazing to have a 100% vegan restaurant in Taunton. Veganism isn't a business venture. It's an ethical philosophy that does the best for the animals, the planet, and public health."
Another added: "I’m very saddened to hear this as someone who put so much energy into your restaurant I understand entirely why you are doing this but from a vegan standpoint I would see this as unethical practice."
In reply, the restaurant said: "Despite lots of marketing, many special offers, offering dine in and takeaway, introducing the use of home delivery partners, and working incredibly hard to be as efficient as possible, not enough of the local population used us regularly enough to make continuing in the current format sustainable.
"We must move on with positivity and are determined to do so."
There has been no exact date for when the restaurant will reopen, they have just said later in the Autumn period.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel