Restaurants That Give Back: 7 Of London’s Most Ethical Restaurants

15th October 2019 | By Lottie Woodrow

Grabbing a bite to eat in London is easy, but finding somewhere that’s actively making a change and giving back to society and local communities are few and far between. Whether it’s a restaurant that’s partnered with a charity that’s close to your heart or a restaurant that’s doing their bit to save the bees, we’ve rounded up our favourite restaurants around the city that are doing their bit and giving back. Without further ado, here’s seven of our favourites:

Bankside Hotel

To celebrate National Cocktail Month, Bankside Hotel is paying a little homage to a local treasure, post-medieval Crossbones Garden. Bankside Open Spaces Trust has transformed the untouched burial ground to create a garden led by local people that shows respect to the dead who are buried beneath. The resident mixologist at Bankside Hotel’s Art Yard Bar, Juri Romano, has curated a cocktail combining a lemon juice and sweet agave syrup, matcha tea, angostura bitter, egg white and Ocho Tequila. It’s fruity, and is beautifully garnished playing a lovely homage to the hidden Bankside gem.

Available until 31st October

Where: Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection, Blackfriars Road, Upper Ground, London, UK
Website: www.banksidehotel.com

The LaLiT London

If you’re a frequent reader of The Handbook, you’ll know The LaLiT London is a huge favourite of ours when it comes to London’s luxury boutique hotels. And, much to our delight, they’re doing their bit to give back. The Executive Director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, set up the Keshav Suri Foundation in 2018, helping to highlight the issues faced by the deeply marginalised LGBTQ+ community, with a particular focus on India.

The wonderful foundation ties up with It Gets Better Project – a global platform to uplift, empower, and connect the LGBTQ+, and creates a platform that will enable people from the community to share their stories with pride and without judgement.

Where: 181 Tooley Street, London SE1 2JR, UK
Website: www.thelalit.com

Sky Garden

We’re a sucker for a good view and Sky Garden is definitely home to London’s finest. But, nuzzled inside you’ll find Sky Garden and Darwin Brasserie and Fenchurch Restaurant are definitely doing their bit for charity.

Throughout September and October, the restaurant has been working with Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organisation committed to ending world hunger, whereby £1 is added to the bill in Fenchurch and Darwin to be donated to the charity. While as a building, they show their support to charities by lighting up the building in the charity colours, and they also hold an annual GOSH Tower Climb in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital where participants can run up the building (eek!) and Sky Garden will meet you at the top with refreshments. These are just two examples but Sky Garden works with lots of other charities to help do their part.

Where: Sky Garden, 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 8AF, UK
Website: skygarden.london

The Clink Restaurant

Nestled in the old governor’s house at HMP Brixton, The Clink Restaurant serves up food that’s been prepared, cooked and served by the prisoners in training who are working towards gaining their NVQs in Food & Beverage Service, Professional Cookery and Food Hygiene. The restaurant allows prisoners to learn, engage with the public and take their first steps towards a new life. Whether you’re after a quick lunch, a spot of afternoon tea, or just a big ol’ Sunday roast, The Clink Restaurant has you covered.

Where: Jebb Avenue, Brixton, SW2 5XF
Website: www.theclinkcharity.org

Waterhouse Restaurant

Tucked along the banks of Regent’s Canal, Waterhouse Restaurant was founded by Shoreditch Trust back in 2008, as a social enterprise, and focuses on regeneration and sustainability, minimising its impact on the environment and supporting the local community. The riverside resto hosts Shoreditch Trust’s Blue Marble Training, which provides chef training and support for young people who have faced challenging circumstances, including homelessness, mental health problems, knife crime and gang violence. The programme helps to incorporate professional chef training within a live kitchen with practical and emotional support, using a narrative therapy model.

Where: 10 Orsman Road, Haggerston, Hackney, N1 5QJ
Website: www.waterhouserestaurant.co.uk

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