The Hydro

I was really excited to find somewhere in Buxton with clearly marked vegan items on their menu. Staff were happy to answer my queries about extra items like onion rings but unfortunately after that it all went down hill. I ordered a hummus and cucumber sandwich but instead was presented with a cheese and ham sandwich. This was quickly rectified after the waiting staff worked out the member of staff who took my order just wrote 'h&c' on the order. After a short wait I was finally given my hummus and cucumber sandwich which was one of the vegan items on the menu only to discover after taking a bite that the bread had been buttered. I queried if the butter was dairy free but was told they had new kitchen staff who had used butter. This was incredibly disappointing and I sent my sandwich back to the kitchen and didn't trust the kitchen enough to eat anything else. Such a careless act makes you question the use of meat stocks, dairy ingredients etc in their food and whether their vegetarian and vegan labels can actually be trusted. Another member of staff said the sandwich would be removed from my bill which was nice but I wasn't expecting to pay for it as I'd had one bite and it had quite upset me.

I work in Buxton, which has become a vegan desert since Wild Carrot closed down. I was chuffed to find a place that lists vegan breakfasts and sausage sandwiches, so I ordered the latter to take away.

All I can say is that it was the most disgusting approximation of a sausage that I've ever tasted. Basically, grated carrot, chopped mixed nuts and yeast extract, formed into a patty and served on bog standard supermarket bread. Like some bizarre 1970s throwback. For over £3 takeaway price. I couldn't finish it and won't return.

What a shame, I really wanted to like the place and hoped to go in regularly for breakfast.

The Hydro is located in a slightly down-at-heel pedestrianised shopping street, dominated by pound-shops and charity shops.
Walking in to this cafe, it's like being taken back to a by-gone era. Records and film posters line the walls, and a flat-screen TV shows highlights from newsreels of the 1950s.
Amongst the standard (meat dominated) cafe favourites are a few hidden vegan gems: breakfast with home-made vegan sausages, beans, toast, hash-browns and mushrooms; falafel burger; vegan puddings.
Our vegan breakfast was tasty, and good portions (although not very cheap compared to a greasy spoon).
Service was really friendly, and the atmosphere something a bit different from a bog-standard cafe.
Maybe not enough of a veg*n crowd in town to justify a 100% veggie menu?