Tom's Diner

* Happerley audits, certifies and publishes food and drink supply chains. Happerley is not responsible for the client supplied information for Our Brand Values and Our Commitments. However, if you believe this information to be inaccurate please contact the Happerley Support team on [email protected].

OUR BRAND VALUES*

Tom’s Diner is an American inspired cafe offering all the comfort food you’d expect, with a twist- gluten/ nut free and 100% plant based, so everyone can enjoy anything off the menu without feeling left out. Situated under Banbury Museum, right on the canal in the heart of Banbury’s Creative Quarter, Tom's Diner is a place where everyone can eat! Vg, nf, gf and allergy friendly. Sourcing sustainable and locally grown ingredients wherever possible, the Diner aspires to show its customers that plant-based meals can be, and should be; affordable, delicious and environmentally friendly. Suppliers and producers have been carefully selected based on their own business ethics. This means that at Tom's, we only work with companies who have and practice their own green business policies, who aspire to be carbon neutral and are doing all that they can to reduce their environmental impact. We are Banbury’s first plant based cafe and dog friendly too* * well behaved dogs are welcome at the tables nearest the door

OUR COMMITMENTS*

Sustainability

Our fresh produce is sourced locally wherever and whenever possible. We do not serve avocados for instance, which is a staple in some vegan restaurants. We are currently working with an experienced sustainability consultancy to reduce our waste to landfill to zero. We source from local suppliers wherever possible, and all fresh produce is seasonal, and if not produced within a 50 mile radius, then grown in the UK at least. Our oat milk is made from UK grown oats for instance. One of our drinks suppliers uses surplus fruit to make their cordials.

Environment

We'd like to think that by being Banbury's first plant based cafe is a significant step in the right direction in terms of global environmental aims. By showing our customers that vegan food is delicious , affordable and good for the planet, the message gets across that people can reduce their meat and dairy consumption and still enjoy food and eating out as much as they ever did. We support local businesses wherever we can, and as well as the food businesses already named, we also source our cleaning products based on the same principles. Cleenol and SESI are our chosen suppliers.

Local Communities

We have already established close links with New Routes Banbury- a social enterprise supporting young people at risk of becoming NEET, who will be growing herbs and vegetables which we are keen to buy. New Ground is our coffee supplier, offering jobs and training to ex-offenders in the Thames Valley area. We are linking with the Museum's Reminiscences group to ensure that we are dementia friendly, as well as providing excellent accessibility for any of our customers with limited mobility. Staff have exceptional knowledge of the diverse needs within a community, and are able to subtly support.

Packaging & Waste

As above, packaging is either recycled, returned, composted or reused. Our food waste is very low, as we encourage people to eat what they've ordered, our food is super tasty, or to decline items they do not want- we offer alternatives where possible. We recycle all our packaging, returning as much of it as possible to the respective suppliers to be re-used/ recycled. Our salad and herb supplier is already a carbon neutral business, based about 6 miles away. Their packaging is made from plant starch and is compostable. We only work with businesses who share our sustainability goals.

Inspiring & Educating

We have forged links already with the local catering college, having had 1 student visit already and more planned for the future. As an ex- SENCo/ School Manager and Governor, I am passionate about inspiring and educating anyone keen to know more about a more compassionate and sustainable way of living. I have worked previously as a cookery teacher, and am hoping to develop the UK's first vegan accredited (ie City and Guilds/ BTEC) catering course in collaboration with Banbury and Bicester College.

Energy Reduction

We occupy a public building owned by Cherwell District Council. We adhere to and aspire to the Council's own energy reduction goals.

Nutritional Values

Available on request where possible. Our menus change daily, happy to provide any/ all info to customers regarding our dishes and the ingredients therein.