Tom's Diner

17/09/2024

Hi everyone! I need your help! 🙏 The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of small businesses affected by COVID, and so our insurers have been instructed to honour their business interruption cover. Which is good news… but…. my lawyers now need evidence that there was Covid ‘at the premises’ during those early days in March 2020. I have one witness statement but apparently this is not enough.
I would be so grateful if you would be able to let me know if there are any other individuals (friends, family, clients, staff) I could contact in view of this. (Yet more hoops to jump through.)
My lawyers have told me that to have an even more persuasive case to the insurer: we need witness statements from any other persons who were on my premises and suffering from Covid between 5th March 2020 – 23rd March 2020.
I know it’s a long time ago, but if you had Covid and may have been in the cafe then, please help me! 🙏 Lucy

08/04/2022

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Exciting news for local Oxfordshire people. Been working with this new startup for about 6 months now to bring a new and exciting artisan marketplace to rural Oxfordshire. As they grow, they’re hoping to have many more vegan traders on board, so if you know of anyone, please hop over to and send a DM. This is a huge post-Covid community building mission to connect and grow the arts, music, local producers and makers, and unite all in one beautiful space beside the canal. Everyone is welcome!

28/03/2022

As the war rages on in Ukraine, many of us are asking ourselves what we can do to help? You can help in so many ways, donating (time, money, supplies) taking direct action (Cyber activism, taking supplies to the border) There is no excuse not to do something if you feel so moved. I saw this article on facebook

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ukraine-refugee-lviv-vegan-kitchen-b2036106.html

about a small vegan restaurant in Lviv (see check-in) who are now feeding 200+ refugees a day, and I wanted to help directly. We are so grateful to Sam Donaghy who is going to take supplies to the border for them.

Donate here to support Sam with costs for fuel and supples. https://gofund.me/8cd56097

There is a weekly car going from Poznan in Poland actually into Lviv. It's a 20 hour round trip and dangerous at best.
Please don't hate the method as this is the quickest solution, but I also want to share this wishlist and to ask if anyone is able to purchase from it, so the items can be sent directly to Poznan, and then on to Lviv. Please share with all your vegan networks so that Vega Room can continue its amazing work.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1PU6SI7J4FDH4?ref_=wl_share

23/03/2022

This is the best news!
Repost from
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Here’s the exciting news we promised to reveal today. Starting this Saturday our van will be pitched up at The Old Coal Wharf in Cropedy and to celebrate we will be offering the first 20 customers a free coffee (or alternative beverage if that’s your jam) when you buy a cake.

You might be wondering about our pitch at People’s Park. Sadly returning to the park didn’t work out as well as we had hoped and we realised that many of our customers would prefer to support us at our cafe on the canal instead.

We are really grateful that we had the opportunity to grow our business whilst in the park and we have fond memories of serving our customers there. It will always remain a special place for us.

We are looking ahead now to new possibilities and new surroundings.

Onwards!

01/11/2021

Happy World Vegan Day, for the animals, for the planet and for our future

03/09/2021

25/08/2021

Big shout out to Pavement Coffee Co
who are taking over the museum cafe from us, while we focus on bespoke catering and the events side of our business. Please support another Banbury venture 💚
・・・
Here’s a message from them.....
We just wanted to say a HUGE thanks to everyone has shown their support for our Crowdfunder.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/museum-cafe

It means so much that you are giving up your hard earned cash to help out towards the project. We also know that not everyone is in a position to donate at the moment and that is ok. Word of mouth, likes and shares are all free and hugely appreciated. The link is still in our bio, where it will remain for the duration of the campaign, so if you would like to pledge your support in return for our gratitude or a reward please follow that link.

16/05/2021

Hi everyone. Just a quick update to let you know that we will NOT be opening next week. It’s been a very tough first year for us, as you can imagine. We’re still waiting for the restart grant and other government support to get us back on our feet. As soon as we know more we will let you know! 💚💚💚 Thanks for all your messages and support, it has been hugely appreciated over these difficult times ❤️

24/01/2021

What’s your favourite vegan, preferably organic, beer?
Our beer-washed rind from is made using ~ it’s gluten free too!
We have 6 of these beauties left, plus 4 enormous Cranbrie slices, 2 Blues and 1 Aged Dulse. More coming soon but please help us to keep stocked up by purchasing our artisan cheeses. Hate to say it but use us or lose us x

24/01/2021

Hearty soup on a chilly day! Easy recipe too! Check it out along with a few other lockdown dishes, in our Facebook album.

24/01/2021

Couple more recipes in the Lockdown Recipes album, Cauli Pasta and Spicy Tomato Soup- perfect to warm you up after a snowy day outside :)

24/01/2021

For home schoolers or anyone wanting to make some simple vegan recipes with their kids. Tag us in any recipes you try, happy cooking! Sign up to our newsletter for more grown-up ideas :)

22/01/2021

Last of the Mouse’s Favourite cheese order- b/b dates beginning of February so please liberate from our fridge! 5 generous slices of Cranbrie, 6 Beerwashed rind (gf) 3 blue and 1 dulse remaining. Order on line & collect from cafe or our cheese elf could possibly deliver in central Banbury....

22/01/2021

We are seeing so many people re-arrange their homes at the moment - because well there isn't much else to do☯ ⠀
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Well, if we know one thing, it's that our cordials not only taste good but they look good too... heck we have won a bunch of awards for our bottles including "best visual identity in the food and beverage sector" at last year's Transform Awards🏆⠀
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So basically, what we are saying is that if you just add a bottle of two to your shelves in your kitchen it will liven up the space straight away🧡⠀
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21/01/2021

Our gal .png talking more about litter picking and her zero waste lifestyle 🌍💚🐝 #
EPISODE 2 OF ‘TRASH TALK’ OUT NOW ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL (link here https://youtu.be/P8QgGEIF2gc ) - For this episode I talk about a litter picking app I’ve been using called ‘Planet Patrol’. TW: I obviously didn’t wanna wear plastic or disposable gloves which would defeat the point of trying to be plastic free so I did just use my hands. I know some people will be triggered by this and tbh I was a bit too but I ASSURE you, for the good of the community I sanitised my hands after each piece of litter I picked up AND I sannied my phone as soon as I got home 😉. I then tended to my wounds haha. Watch the full vid for some fun facts and to see me absolutely deck it

ALSO I wanted to add in a bit about my hoooodie. There is an organisation called ‘Music Declares Emergency’ () and they are actively calling on governments and media institutions to TELL THE TRUTH about the climate emergency and to ACT NOW. A lot of big artists (including Thome Yorke and Billie Eilish) are involved in working towards systemic change to protect life on Earth. U should check them out. My mumzy got me this hoodie for chrimbo, and it came in biodegradable packaging and is made from natural materials and renewable energy.

**Big shout out to my sister Polly for letting me drag u round once again on one of my weird projects hahaaaa**

Also I found the article on the ocean garbage patch, I’ve added it to my linktree

APP: founded by
Biodegradable trash bags: you can find in most super markets
Biodegradable bamboo plasters:
No Music On A Dead Planet Hoodie:

13/01/2021

Shall we order? Who’s in? X

As a life-long cheese addict I thought ditching dairy a few years ago would spell the end of my love affair with all things cheesy and good.   After much experimenting in the kitchen I began to develop recipes for plant based cheese that would quench even my long-standing cheese palette

13/01/2021

5/5 Ta Dah! Looks yummy! 😊🍌💚

13/01/2021

William and Elliott making our banana bread 😊