A veggie feast

UP to 10,000 people are expected to descend on the Brighton Centre this weekend for the city’s biggest celebration of the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle.

As well as 200 stalls selling plant-based products, the two-day event is hosting a hemp expo, lectures, film screenings, a party political conference on Saturday and global food sustainability conference on Sunday and the first UK Vegan Comedy Festival across the two days.

“Since introducing comedy hours to our shows in 2012, they have been very well received with full houses at nearly every performance,” says Tim Barford, organiser of Vegfest UK, who are bringing the festival back to the Brighton Centre after five years in Hove.

“The best thing is that these comedy sessions challenge the stereotype of vegans as being humourless and intolerant, and demonstrate clearly that some vegans don't take themselves too seriously, whilst taking the issues of health, animal welfare and the environment very seriously. With the sheer number of high quality vegan comedians on show at Brighton, we’re sure that our visitors will be thoroughly entertained on both days and have a superb day out.”

On the bill are Carl Donnelly, Andrew O’Neill, Michael Legge and Harriet Kemsley among many more.

Other special guests over the weekend include musician and journalist John Robb, former Everton footballer Neil Robinson, model Victoria Eisermann, and Green MP Caroline Lucas who will open the event at 11am tomorrow.

Plus multiple Guinness World Record holder Wim “The Iceman” Hoff is making his first public appearance talking about his incredible endurance feats which have seen him run a marathon above the Arctic Circle wearing just shorts and swim under ice for 66 metres.

Doors 11am, tickets from £5 day ticket, £8 weekend in advance. Visit www.theticketsellers.co.uk/tickets/vegfestuk-brighton-2015/10033642