Bonnington Cafe

Bonnington Cafe The community-run Bonnington Cafe- a short walk from Vauxhall tube- has been serving outstanding vegetarian & vegan food for 42 years!
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Open for evening dining on Tuesdays to Saturdays, & for Sunday & Tuesday lunch, we look forward to seeing you soon. The Bonnington Cafe today

The Bonnington Café is an affordable vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the heart of Vauxhall, managed by the non-profit Bonnington Centre Community Association (BCCA). One of South London's best-kept secrets and tucked amidst the beautiful community garden

s of Bonnington Square, the Café has been open since the early 80's when it was started as a squat Café to provide a good cheap meal for the community. Much has changed in the years since we opened, but not the sense of community. Originally managed by a cooks' cooperative and now directly run by the local community, our wonderful changing roster of cooks draw each night on a wide range of cuisines. The Bonnington Cafe continues to be committed to high quality vegetarian and vegan food; to affordable prices; and to an equitable share of proceeds between the cooks and the BCCA. Early history

Initially the café wasn't open to the public. It was an eating place run by squatters for squatters, because the local houses were in such a bad state and didn't have gas or electricity or sometimes even water. It was a communal space where food could be made for people from the community, and if they had nothing they paid nothing, or whatever they could afford. At the very beginning, people would go to the old fruit and veg market at New Covent Garden and pick up the throw-away vegetables. It didn't really cost anything, but was still perfectly good food that was just thrown away in our wasteful society. From squat to community centre

By the mid-1980s, as nearby homes were slowly renovated, there was less need for a squatters' kitchen. One of the squatters who had lived upstairs at 11 Vauxhall Grove turned the building into a community centre. The BCCA was founded in the early 1990s - and was able to purchase the whole builkdiong for the community thanks to a National Lottery grant. It was decided to turn the kitchen into a café, but still to keep it as a communal space for both cooking and eating. Because it is a very popular café there was always a lot of pressure to go upmarket, but to this day we don't want to, and aim to keep our prices affordable. A different chef every night

The original cooks' collective - sometimes known as the Café Users Group or CUG - originally ran the café on a co-operative basis. All cooks were members of the CUG, and this led to a great system where every day of the week somebody different cooked. There were blessings in that, but sometimes problems as well. If someone forgot that it was their night to cook, then the café would stay shut! Today, the BCCA maintains the same tradition of having different cooks each session. The nice thing about this unusual system is that there is a great variety of cuisines on offer. After paying the BCCA a flat fee for their session, a cook is responsible for buying the food, preparing and serving it, and cleaning up at the end of the day. Cuisine from around the world

The philosophy behind the café is the same today as it was 40 years ago - to have a community-friendly place where people can come in, sit down and meet people. It is also a place for people who like to cook vegetarian and vegan food to be able to do it without the risk and investment involved in opening a café of their own. We want to have as many different cuisines as possible, so we presently have people cooking with us whose food is inspired by Syria, Poland, Iran, Pakistan, and England. Many cooks make an effort to use local produce, such as from allotments, farmers' markets and UK farms. Everyone though has a different angle, so while some focus on seasonal food and organic, others focus on raw foods and for some its all about exotic ingredients from around the globe.

TONIGHT’S MENU by Tiki & Spice Open from 6pm 🍽️ To book: 07949086599
21/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by Tiki & Spice

Open from 6pm 🍽️

To book: 07949086599

TOMORROW’S LUNCH MENU by Roots and Shoots Cook: Mira Iwanik We’re open from 11am for coffee, then 12pm for our fully pla...
20/07/2026

TOMORROW’S LUNCH MENU by Roots and Shoots

Cook: Mira Iwanik

We’re open from 11am for coffee, then 12pm for our fully plant based lunch menu 🌱

Book ahead or just turn up!

PAY WHAT YOU CAN
EVERYONE WELCOME

Tonight we have cooking a deliciously vibrant menu with their signature global flavours! Join us from 6pm 🍽️BYOB 🍷 ...
18/07/2026

Tonight we have cooking a deliciously vibrant menu with their signature global flavours!

Join us from 6pm 🍽️

BYOB 🍷

A lovely spread from last Tuesday Roots and Shoots
17/07/2026

A lovely spread from last Tuesday

Roots and Shoots

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN An Asian / European fusion menu Open from 6pm - outside seating available
17/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN

An Asian / European fusion menu

Open from 6pm - outside seating available

TONIGHT’S MENU by MISIEKOpen from 6pmBYOB
16/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by MISIEK

Open from 6pm
BYOB

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN
15/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN

You have been asking us for recipes for along time...Tonight we are fundraising towards our cook book and you could get ...
14/07/2026

You have been asking us for recipes for along time...
Tonight we are fundraising towards our cook book and you could get a recipe or two if you come to celebrate our community meals with us!

TONIGHTWe are celebrating our Roots and Shoots Community Lunch Projects with an evening buffet, plant sale fundraiser ...
14/07/2026

TONIGHT
We are celebrating our Roots and Shoots Community Lunch Projects with an evening buffet, plant sale fundraiser and art by Imogen Matthews" These places aren't just spaces".

Looking forward to see you!

Tuesday Community Lunch 14/07/26Butter Bean Pate with Sourdough BreadCoconut Curry with RiceAlmond Pastries and CakesOrg...
14/07/2026

Tuesday Community Lunch 14/07/26
Butter Bean Pate with Sourdough Bread
Coconut Curry with Rice
Almond Pastries and Cakes
Organic Filter Coffee and Herb Tea
All Welcome!

TODAY’S BRUNCH MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN Open 11am - 3pm
12/07/2026

TODAY’S BRUNCH MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN

Open 11am - 3pm

11/07/2026
TONIGHT’S MENU byKaraz Kitchen Utopia Food A delicious spread of Syrian delights Open from 6pm 🍽️
10/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by

Karaz Kitchen
Utopia Food

A delicious spread of Syrian delights

Open from 6pm 🍽️

TONIGHT’S MENU by MISIEK Open from 6pm All plant based 🌱
09/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by MISIEK

Open from 6pm

All plant based 🌱

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN A fusion of Asian & European influences Open from 6pm
08/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN

A fusion of Asian & European influences

Open from 6pm

TONIGHT’S MENU by Open from 6pm BYOB 🍷 Garden seating ready 😎
07/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by

Open from 6pm

BYOB 🍷

Garden seating ready 😎

TUESDAY 7th JULY Open 11am - 2pm All plant based 🌱
06/07/2026

TUESDAY 7th JULY

Open 11am - 2pm

All plant based 🌱

New exhibition at Bonnington Café! Join us tonight, 6 July from 4-9pm, for the private view of Henry Gundry-White's late...
06/07/2026

New exhibition at Bonnington Café! Join us tonight, 6 July from 4-9pm, for the private view of Henry Gundry-White's latest exhibition – meet the artist and enjoy the work.

There are also some fabulous subsidised art workshops for adults and children this month – just £5. See the poster for details. Everyone welcome!

TODAY’S BRUCH MENUBy ARFA’S KITCHEN Open 11am - 3pm
05/07/2026

TODAY’S BRUCH MENU

By ARFA’S KITCHEN

Open 11am - 3pm

TONIGHT’S MENU by Open from 6pm 🍲 BYOB 🍷
04/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by

Open from 6pm 🍲
BYOB 🍷

TONIGHT’S MENU Open from 6pm 🍽️
03/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU

Open from 6pm 🍽️

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN Open from 6pm
01/07/2026

TONIGHT’S MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN

Open from 6pm

TUESDAY COMMUNITY LUNCH MENU 30/6/26Join us tomorrow for our weekly community lunch by Roots and Shoots ☕️ from 11am🍽️ f...
29/06/2026

TUESDAY COMMUNITY LUNCH

MENU 30/6/26

Join us tomorrow for our weekly community lunch by Roots and Shoots

☕️ from 11am
🍽️ from 12pm

Pay what you can

All plant based 🌱

TODAY’S BRUNCH MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN Open 11am - 3pm
28/06/2026

TODAY’S BRUNCH MENU by ARFA’S KITCHEN

Open 11am - 3pm

Address

11 Vauxhall Grove
London
SW81TD

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