Hastings vegan restaurant expands and is offering Christmas dinner with a difference

Hastings vegan restaurant The Hempist has bounced back strongly despite being hit by the first national lockdown just weeks after opening its doors for the first time in February.
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The Hempist at Marine Parade, on the seafront, attracted was opened by world-renowned Reggae DJ and festival organiser Dan Wiltshire, specialising in hemp-based burgers, hotdogs and patties with a Jamaican twist.

The idea proved to be so popular that the restaurant sold out of most of its dishes on its opening weekend,

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Far from being deterred by what followed in such a difficult year, Dan used the time to expand the restaurant, adding an atmospheric upstairs room with more tables,

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The Hempist 4 SUS-201215-100147001

The Hempist also expanded its menu to provide vegan Sunday roasts, which have proved very popular, and is offering a full Christmas dinner menu in the run-up to Christmas, which includes a rum Christmas pudding, vegan turkey with a chestnut and hemp stuffing, pigs in blankets and even a full vegan cheeseboard. The restaurant will also be opening on Christmas Day to serve up dinner to people who are unable to enjoy celebrations at home due to the virus, or having to work.

Dan has lit up the restaurant, inside and outside, for Christmas, which has led to some positive comments from passers-by.

He said: “Some of my team think the lights are a bit over the top - but it’s Christmas and I love it.”

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He added: “I wanted to open on Christmas Day as I know there are people who may not be bale t have a celebration with their family. I also know people who live and work here, but who have family in different countries and can’t get back for Christmas.”

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Hempist 1 SUS-201215-094313001

Dan remains upbeat about the year we have experienced. He said: “Normally I would be putting on the One Love Festival and DJ-ing around the world. But every cloud has a silver lining and it has meant that I have been able to really concentrate on the restaurant, open the room upstairs and try out lots of new ideas.

“We employ five vegan chefs here and they are always coming up with new things and refining dishes. I love coming up with new ideas.”

Some of these have proved to be really popular such as Dan’s idea to branch into retail by offering vegan Christmas hampers and selling high quality hemp-oil, for which he says there is a growing demand. The restaurant also offers a good range of cocktails, including dramatic ‘smoke cocktails’.

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The Hempist has also become a focal point for the local vegan community, who hold a socially distanced social evening there every Wednesday which supports those trying out a vegan lifestyle for the first time.

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Hempist 2 SUS-201215-094324001

There is a jazz night on Monday, Funky Tuesday and Reggae Thursday,

See also: {https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/people/amazing-bexhill-micropub-celebrates-first-year-and-has-offered-200-different-cask-beers-3026191-Local micropub serves up more than 200 different beers in its first year of opening despite being hit by lockdowns}

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