Thousands turn out for Vegfest in Hove

More than 5,000 visitors attended Vegfest at Hove Town Hall over the weekend.

The exhibition is one of Europe’s biggest lifestyle shows for vegetarians and vegans and has been held in Hove for six years.

As well as offering a varied menu of plant-based foods, dozens of stands included information on nutrition, lifestyle and entertainment.

The organisers said that the highlights of the show included speakers such as the former Everton player Neil Robinson, billed as the world’s first vegan footballer.

Caterers staffed 125 stalls and stocked with vegan foods ranging from pad thais, cakes, canapes, mock meats, cheeses, chocolates and more.

There were talks, cookery demos, workshops and short films on the benefits of following a plant-based lifestyle, performances, a bodybuilding competition, speed dating and comedy hours.

There was also a fundraising auction in aid of the Animal Welfare Party’s campaign to win a seat at the European Parliament elections.

Vegfest plans to return to Brighton and Hove next year at a venue and date that have yet to be decided.