Non-profit operation that's part of wider eco initiative. Supports local disadvantaged group. Serves vegan food that's local, organic, and reflects the different cuisines of the borough. On a busy street corner. Formerly named Gannets. Reported to have irregular opening hours, check before visiting. Previously called Hornbeam Cafe. Open Thu-Sat 11:00-15:00.
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458 Hoe St, Walthamstow (at Hornbeam Environmental Centre), East London, England, E17 9AH
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Last update on 20 Sep 2023 by RichardⓋMolyneux
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15 Reviews
First Review by JohnnySensible
jesterminute
Points +16
Never open - Edit
Totally pointless. Place is never open.
Read morePlease remove it.
Guest
clefairyt
Points +305
Great community cafe - Edit
Went one Tuesday to the 'Gleaner's Cafe' at the Hornbeam for lunch, which works on a pay-as-you-feel basis. Great community feel, really relaxed and informal, with tasty food too. Had soup, kimchi, sourdough bread and pesto and was very satisfied! Definitely worth checking out and supporting as a brilliant community project.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-01-26
Pros: Pay-as-you-feel, Informal atmosphere
Guest
Naima
Points +15
Often closed - Edit
Not sure what’s going on but went there 3 times in a row this week at times where the cafe was supposed to be open and it was closed. My previous experiences there were however good, staff is very nice and while food doesn’t taste amazing, it’s healthy and always good enough.
Read moreGuest
Asleep On A Sunbeam
Points +113
Great food, low cost - Edit
Really great brunch and fritters, mint cordial, fantastic coffee, decent sized portions! Will be coming again.
Read moreGuest
V-gan
Points +716
Tasty, healthy and varied - Edit
Had lunch here yesterday and were very pleased with the tasty, varied and healthy choices.
Read moreThere wasn't a single mock meat (seitan, tofu, Tempe etc.) on the menu and what we did have was delicious. I can recommend the toastie of the day, in my case mushroom, cheese and basil pesto as well as the salads and the quiche.
Do make sure to try one of the scrummy smoothies as well, especially in this jot weather.
Pros: Fresh and healthy, No mock meat
Cons: Salad helpings on the small side
Guest
Ringo45
Points +61
Top shelf vegan food in Walthamstow - Edit
Perfect as I thought I was gonna starve in Walthamstow because I was far away from home and far from any other vegan food place that Walthamstow felt like a desert of just fried animal based foods so this place saved me.
Read morePros: Very good options , Free wifi , Nice chilled environment
Cons: None
Guest
Emsee
Points +286
Big portions of deliciousness! - Edit
Vegan Sunday roast was amazing and the jackfruit toastie was divine!
Read morePros: Large portions, Delicious, Eco-friendly community feel
Cons: Possibly too much food?!, Too far from my home hahaha
Guest
JuliaMcK
Points +92
v good lunch - Edit
Nice relaxed cafe where we had a great leek and tofu quiche with two interesting salads - beetroot and couscous and black bean soup. Cakes looked nice but it was near 4 on a Sunday and they started selling out.
Read moreGuest
KatrinaCotta
Points +18
Banging Breakfast - Edit
Relaxed and positive atmosphere! The vegan English breakfast was banging as was the homemade ketchup. Very affordable but even had it not been it would be worth every penny. Lovely staff and very impressed it's volunteer led! Loads of opportunity to get involved if your a local - well done for bringing back the community vibes!
Read moreGuest
HarrietLayhe
Points +20
Favourite local vegan cafe - Edit
I'm pretty sure everything here is vegan as standard except you can order eggs with the brunch instead of tofu scramble at the weekend and they serve dairy milk if you ask for it. But other than that all the food is vegan.
Read moreMy favourite cafe for affordable vegan food. I usually go for the sausage and tofu scramble sandwich but the soups, curries and tarts are great as well.
They now sell a small range of vegan items like nutritional yeast, vegan cheese etc and there are lots of events on the evenings now including music nights and supper clubs. You can also refill on various cleaning products there to cut back on packaging.
Pros: Great food, affordable , great atmosphere
Cons: can be busy and it's not massive
Guest
mjveganfitness
Points +1778
lovely little place - Edit
A really cute place for the locals to hang out and enjoy some veggie food with a couple of vegan options thrown in. Worth a visit for breakfast if you're in the area. Vegan sausages on offer but on our visit they were gluten free and no vegan bread either unfortunately.
Read morePros: Good options for veggies, Reasonable prices, Friendly staff
Cons: Limited gluten free options, Simple decor - more suited as a cafe than a restau
Guest
stevegan
Points +51
Friendly place with good vibe. - Edit
This is a place with a great vibe which often has a special event going on in addition to their normal hours, such as raw food pot luck, world food day celebrations, films & talks etc. On saturdays there is also organic/local food stall outside.
Read moreAlthough described as vegetarian it is 99% vegan, as the only non-vegan item they use (at the time of writing) is cows milk option for tea, coffee etc.
Menu can be a bit limited, but they are always happy to try to do you something special and are open to suggestions & offers of help. New, improved opening hours for 2014 - check with their website. http://www.hornbeam.org.uk/cafe/
Run as a "not for profit" with the help of friendly volunteers and has been going (with ups & downs) for almost twenty years.
Updated from previous review on Sunday November 01, 2009
Pros: bright & clean, much local food, lots going on, 99% vegan
Cons: sometimes limited menu, on noisy main road
Guest
ForestQeeper
Points +521
Lovely, but not for tourists - Edit
If you're a tourist you probably will not want to take a long ride with a bus (like I did) and go there to explore this place: you're not even sure you will find food in the afternoon - I didn't, almost all was over. But the people is fantastic and you have the chance to meet people doing a very good job in their community, so a very good experience, even if not a proper "food experience".
Read morePros: Atmosphere, People
Cons: not a real restaurant
Guest
necropalice
Points +131
My Favourite Local - Edit
I love the Hornbeam Cafe.
Read moreThe modest menu is written on a blackboard near the door, but don't be fooled: each dish is cheap, wholesome and delicious, made from locally sourced organic ingredients and almost entirely vegan (cow milk is offered when ordering hot drinks). In addition to amazing vegetable-based mains, there's also a modest selection of hot drinks, juices, beers, wines and cocktails on offer as well as freshly baked bread, jams and chutneys to take home. Crafts produced by the locals are on sale, and there's a notice board crammed with relevant events, meet ups and info regarding the cafe, the community and the city.
From vegan quiche to warm quinoa salad, curries to pastries, there's always a mouthwatering dish for either lunch or dinner.
The Hornbeam is a non-profit business: expect beautifully cooked, simple meals and a conversation with whoever happens to be volunteering that day.
I love it: it's an important part of my neighbourhood and it deserves to flourish.
Updated from previous review on Sunday March 03, 2013
Pros: wholesome food, amazing value, awesome interior
Cons: limited seating
Guest
JohnnySensible
Points +7566
Help needed - community cafe - - Edit
Volunteer run - more volunteers needed so that they can open on more days.
Read moreOrganic / local veggies used for the dishes / sold by the box.
Now the cafe is only open on Saturdays.
10 to 4.
Phone to reconfirm opening times before you visit.
http://www.hornbeam.org.uk/?q=node/12
Nearest train station is - Walthamstow Central (Victoria line),
stevegan
The opening times are now much better! Mon - Fri 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm. Also see their website hornbeam.org
Read moreGuest
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