Vegan cafe plan for Victorian arcade in city centre

A brand new vegan cafe with 20 covers is set to open in central Birmingham.

Fressh will be the third major city centre eatery seeking to capitalise on the trend for plant-based menus and will take the former Yum Yum site on at the Union Street end of the City Arcade.

Company founder Vijay Singh, 27, says: “Fressh food will be the benchmark for vegan choice in Birmingham.

“We want people to eat here primarily because they love the food and atmosphere, rather than just because it is meat free.

“Our aim is to promote a healthier more sustainable and ethical choice.

“Fressh will provide tasty food that’s good for them and a convenient, quick choice for food – not just for vegans and vegetarians.

“All of our food will be served in a fast-food style concept and also has seating up to 20 people.”

The City Arcade frontage in 2014 when Yum Yum was in business (Image: Graham Young)

Other city centre vegan cafes include 3 Three’s on Martineau Way – which opened in March last year and will be just one minute’s walk away from the Fressh site for anyone heading through

3 Three’s also runs a second cafe which opened last November on the fringes of the .

In March this year, opened on Sussex Street Queensway opposite the

Vijay adds: “Birmingham city centre is the perfect place to offer healthy, delicious and wholesome plant-based food that fuels and energises without compromising flavour, taste or satisfaction in an ethical and sustainable lifestyle to the masses (not just vegans).”

Fressh is expected to open around July / August.

The ceiling of City Arcade above the future Fressh — Stunning: the arched ceiling of City Arcade above the future Fressh (Image: Graham Young)

Who is Vijay Singh?

I used to be an accountant but didn’t really enjoy the work so I started a successful online business.

I am 27 and from Walsall. I like to go out, socialise and keep fit.

Why veganism?

The glass roof of the City Arcade (Image: Graham Young)

Vijay says: “I was consuming too much meat which never really sat well with me.

“The more I started to consider a vegan diet the more I discovered how unethical the meat industry is.

“The greenhouse gas implications of animal agriculture on the planet is damaging and clearly not sustainable.

“Soon after I made the switch almost two years ago I started to experience a boost in energy and an all-round better health condition.

“The most common health reasons to choose a vegan lifestyle are disease prevention (heart diseases, diabetes etc) and body mass index/weight loss (much lower saturated fats).

"These benefits along with the ethical and environmental advantages made me realise adopting a Vegan diet was a no brainer!”

Why this location?

Looking up City Arcade towards Union Street (Image: Graham Young)

Compared with the off Colmore Row and in New Street, the City Arcade has felt a bit unloved in recent years when traders have come and gone.

It’s also the only arcade of the three to have shops on a single side, but it’s close to the new stops, House of Fraser and even McDonald’s and Pret a Manger on Cherry Street.

Built in 1897, the late Victorian arcade was threatened with demolition in 1961 but survived ten years of closure to reopen in 1972 following an £80,000 facelift.