UK Gets Its First All-Vegan Hotel

The United Kingdom’s first fully vegan hotel, Saorsa 1875, will open in Scotland in June 2019. Developed by vegan hospitality company Saorsa Group Ltd., the hotel will be housed in a Victorian-era baronial house built in 1875 and refurbished with modern, cruelty-free touches. “We wanted to create a space where everybody—vegans and otherwise—can come together to celebrate the incredible innovation and diversity that we’re seeing across the movement,” Saorsa CEO and Co-founder Sandra McLaren-Stewart said. “This isn’t about abstinence or sacrifice, it’s an environment where guests can experience amazing food, drink, and design that doesn’t come at the expense of our fellow animals.” Everything from toiletries to cleaning products to food will be vegan on-premises and the hotel will include cocktail bar Faodail, where libations will be made from local ingredients and inspired by the owners’ travels. Dining at the hotel will be overseen by Italian chef Luca Sordi who will use ingredients from local purveyors and the hotel’s own vegetable patch to create dishes inspired by the Scotish wilderness. Dog-friendly Saorsa will also host a variety of experiences such as wellness retreats, outdoor adventures, and cooking classes. The global hospitality sector is getting a cruelty-free makeover, with Turkey’s The Vegan Lodge—which opened in March—and PlantLife Hotel, which plans to open as a 23-villa resort and animal sanctuary in Thailand.