Celebrating one year of connection

On 8 September, our Edinburgh Vegan Lunch Club turns one!

Thanks to Hendersons and our amazing volunteers and members, the club has grown into so much more than shared meals. Over the past year, it has become a space where friendships flourish, conversations spark, and community connections strengthen – helping to ease loneliness one lunch at a time.

What makes the lunch club special is how it brings together two groups who can really benefit from it: local cafés and restaurants, who often have quieter periods during the week, and people – many of them retired – who are looking for meaningful social opportunities. By hosting the club during those quieter times, venues gain extra custom and visibility, while members enjoy a warm, welcoming space with a subsidised plant-based meal and the company of like-minded people.

“It’s a simple idea with a big impact – our lunch clubs support independent cafés and restaurants while also giving people a reason to connect, share stories and feel part of something,” says VfL Chief Executive, Amanda Woodvine. “It’s been wonderful to see it grow.”

From first-timers to regulars, everyone who joins brings the club to life. We’re proud of what we’ve built together and grateful to everyone who’s been part of this journey.

Discover more about our first year and this milestone in What’s On in Edinburgh.

Join us

If you’d like to experience the club for yourself, we’d love to welcome you to our next lunch. Find out more in the link above. 

And if you run a vegan or vegetarian café or restaurant and would like to host a future lunch club, we’d love to hear from you. It’s a chance to fill your space during quieter hours, showcase your menu to new customers, and support a project that tackles loneliness in the community.