A vegan restaurant has been forced to add meat to its menu because of a lack of vegans.
Nomas Gastrobar said they have had to make the difficult decision to stay open.
Bosses have added meat alternative options to their vegan option to boost their profits.
The eatery says it has explored many avenues, but the decision has been made.
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They say they have kept their drinks prices the same amid the cost of living crisis and have tried a variety of money-saving deals.
But this has not helped their financial situation at their restaurant in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
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They say that the move is to help them pay their staff’s wages and their rent.
The previously plant-based restaurant says that they have had many customers walk out of the building after seeing they only had a vegan menu.
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Nomas Gastrobar has two separate menus.
They serve a vegan brunch until 12pm.
This includes a £13.75 full English vegan breakfast and a selection of pancakes.
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From 12pm, the lunch menu is available – including a range of vegan burgers and pizzas.
The owner, Adonis Norouznia, is also a vegan.
Although the menu is mainly vegan, they have brought in the meat options “for those who want them.”
A spokesperson for Nomas Gastrobar said: “Firstly, we’d like to thank everyone who has shown their support over the last 24 hours.
”It means the world at such a difficult time.
“We understand that our decision to start serving meat on our menu may come as quite a shock to people, it certainly did to us.
“However, daily, we witness people walking into Nomas Gastrobar seeing the vegan menu and then walking out.
”Or even saying ‘Is it all vegan’ and then leaving.”
They added: “In answer to comments like ‘Is there no other way’, we promise, we have explored so many avenues.
“When the new menu does happen, the majority of it will still be vegan.
“There will be a few meat alternatives for those who would prefer them.
“We’ve seen a few comments like ‘I was planning to visit but now I won’t’.
”Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean a lot.
”Right now we are not taking enough money to pay our wonderful team’s wages or rent to our landlord, people’s thoughts on visiting don’t help us pay these bills.
“We’ve found it pretty astonishing, some of the nastiness in the comments.
”We have made this choice out of a place of survival for our family-run business and seeing people who are meant to ‘love all beings’ being awful to each other has really been upsetting.
“We’re living in a climate where well-established plant-based businesses are closing.”
The spokesperson added: ”We moved to this county six years ago and this business is our only source of income, we need to make it work and therefore have to try whatever we can.”
After sharing their reasons, diners rushed to praise the restaurant staff for their transparency.
Emily Harris said: “It must be such a hard decision.
”Especially being vegan yourself.
”But I’d much rather you guys stick around, you’re amazing.”
Milan Bufanovic said: “Full support for that decision.”
Jake Gorman said: “You being transparent about it is good.
”You don’t have to tippy toe around the world to survive and keep afloat.”
Erin Bramwell said: “We’ll still be visiting and will always support you.”
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