The vegans are coming to the Isle of Dogs in force when artist Tim Barklem opens a community café with recycled food waste.

East London Advertiser: Tim and volunteer preparing a heathy eating menu. Picture source: Rejuvenate UK -Tim and volunteer preparing a heathy eating menu. Picture source: Rejuvenate UK - (Image: Rejuvenate UK)

He’s wants to start his ‘people’s eatery’ next month and take waste food from department stores to turn into a nutritious vegan menu with cheap healthy dishes.

Tim’s Rejuvenate UK not-for-profit organisation has taken over an empty shop along Pepper Street in Millwall where he ran a temporary pop-up café for a day drawing in families from the neighbourhood and even office workers from nearby Canary Wharf.

Now he is crowdfunding to launch his Viva Las Vegan project on a permanent footing.

“This is a groundbreaking community café, in a nutshell,” the 58-year-old Liverpudlian told the East London Advertiser.

East London Advertiser: Meat menu goes to the dogs... at this vegan community café on the Isle of Dogs. Picture source: Rejuvenate UK -Meat menu goes to the dogs... at this vegan community café on the Isle of Dogs. Picture source: Rejuvenate UK - (Image: Rejuvenate UK)

“It’s a food waste prevention initiative, diverting away from landfill sites while providing fresh organic vegan food.

“We’re also running courses on nutrition and healthy eating and holding workshops aimed at disadvantaged young people.”

He came to the East End 18 years ago and has been involved in community projects ever since, like last year’s scheme turning an empty basement at Poplar’s Carradale House into a recycling centre.

Now he has a £34,000 target for his ‘recycle’ café to raise by December 17 on his Spacehive crowdfunding page, but plans to open in November with £7,000 he’s raised so far.