Meat-free V. Dorset Diner opens in Poole

V. Dorset’s new diner opens on Saturday, June 25, at 12pm, in Ashley Road, Parkstone. 

Previously, the premises only offered takeaway services.

After a refit of the kitchen and front of house area, V.Dorset is ready to welcome eat-in customers as a new diner, while continuing to offer their delivery and pickup services. 

V. Dorset was originally launched by Michelin trained chef Keri Astill-Frew as a vegetarian catering company in 2018, but they turned to takeaway delivery during the pandemic, operating out of the owner’s garage prep kitchen.

Keri said: “We’re really excited to finally open up fully and get to host our fantastic supporters and customers that we have gained over the last couple of years.

"We haven’t been immune to rising costs everywhere so we plan to keep giving our customers great quality food at a good price.

Meat free burgers

"People are treating themselves less so when they do it has to be worth it. We’re also letting people bring their own beer and wine to start with so we should be a cheap night out too.”

Keri and her husband Dan won Best Takeaway in the south west at the British Takeaway Awards in London last September.

They impressed customers and judges with homemade meat free burgers, pittas, salads, plant-based roast dinners and more. 

Keri was also a finalist in the Takeaway Chef of the Year category with her and V. Dorset being the first vegetarian nominee in its history.

The restaurant will seat between 30 to 34 people and includes an outside seating area as well as customer toilets.

It will be offering 20 per cent off all dine-in and collection orders on both Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the grand opening.

The new restaurant is located at 121 Ashley Road, Parkstone, Poole.