Radford pub invites budding chefs to submit ideas for veggie meals

Managers at the Chef and Brewer -owned pub in Southam Road are intent on improving its meat-free dishes after a company report found that 46 per cent of adults in the country are now eating less meat than they did ten years ago.

The report, which surveyed 1,500 adults, found that on average across Britain, people eat up to two meat-free evening meals and three meat-free lunches per week.

The pub’s Bring it to the Vege-Table competition is open to people living in the area, who can submit starter and main course suggestions on the Chef and Brewer website.

A shortlist of five starters and five mains will then go head-to-head in a nationwide public vote, to decide which vegetarian dishes will feature on all 136 Chef and Brewer pub menus across the country, including the White Lion.

And the creators of the winning dishes will also be rewarded with a new Le Creuset kitchen set, worth up to £500.

The White Lion’s general manager Rachael Heeks said: “Our research shows that Leamington residents love the occasional vegetarian meal.

“But it’s surprising to see beans on toast (60 per cent), egg on toast (59 per cent) and vegetable soup (58 per cent) came out on top as the most popular meat-free dishes.

“We are confident that our locals have more of a bit more of a creative flare when it comes to their veggie dishes and can’t wait to see the tasty dishes they propose.”

Entries must be submitted before Sunday October 11. To enter, visit www.chefandbrewer.com/bring-it-to-the-vege-table

The White Lion is housed in a 16th century building that was severely damaged when the thatched roof caught fire in 2006. Parts of the roof fell into the building and it was forced to close, until it reopened in 2011.