PLANT-BASED dining is a trend that has been sweeping cities across the globe this year, says Nick Mosley.

Led by the demands of Millennials and Generation X, plant-based dining is a reaction to the practices of intensive farming, animal welfare and also general health. Whilst statistics show there is an increase in those choosing to lead a vegetarian or vegan way of life – in 2017 Google saw a 90 per cent increase in the word ‘vegan’ as a search term –, many people in the general UK population are choosing to swap meat-based meals for protein rich plant-based meals on a regular basis.

“People are more aware than ever both of the environment and of what they put into their bodies”, said Kate Alleston of Market Restaurant and Bar on Western Road, Hove.

“I think plant-based dining is another aspect of responsible eating, just as choosing local and organic is. Many people who choose to follow a vegan diet are doing it for these reasons, as much as not wanting to consume animal products.

“And with a little thought it’s easy to create amazing tasting and original vegan dishes,” Kate added.

“We ensure that we have a selection of vegan dishes on our main menu so our vegan guests don’t have to ask us to change things for them.

“We also have a range of vegan wines.”

Any supermarket shopper will not have failed to have noticed that meat substitute products aimed at the carnivore’s dining table are taking over more and more premium shelf space, and some of these products are surprisingly good.

According to the UK’s Vegan Society, the number of people considering themselves vegan in the UK has grown from 150,000 a decade ago to over 542,000 today.

That opens up huge possibilities for food retailers and producers to develop profitable new lines, whether Tesco’s vegan lunch range or the ever-improving vegan cheese – created through a fermentation process of soy beans – seen on the menus of global fast food monoliths Pizza Hut and Dominoes.

Brighton and Hove has always led the march in the UK when it comes to both vegetarian and veganism. Terre à Terre in East Street, Brighton, opened back in 1993 and was quickly followed by Food for Friends and Iydea, all of which go from strength to strength.

Over the past few years many independent eateries that one would not automatically associate with vegan food have also expanded their menus to adopt the trend. Whilst a long-time champion of sustainable sourcing, Moshimo in Bartholomew Square, Brighton, serves up a huge range of vegan sushi and main courses alongside traditional fish-based dishes. Equally, Purezza on St James’s Street, Brighton, has an entirely vegan pizza menu, and Boho Gelato in nearby Pool Valley always has a wide range of vegan ice-creams and sorbets on offer that are still big on taste and texture.

Many restaurants in the city are offering vegan dishes as part of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival’s Autumn Harvest from September 6 to 16.