Vegan Options
Vegan Cocktails & Tapas In Leicester – A Tribute To Donald Watson
Quick Answer
Searching for a vegan bar in Leicester? Watson's Cocktail Bar on Granby Street is named in tribute to Donald Watson, co-founder of the Vegan Society, and serves vegan cocktails and a plant-based tapas menu alongside classic cocktails, wine and whisky. It's a cosy, classic cocktail bar — with vegan options for anyone who wants them.
Vegan Options
What's Available
Vegan Cocktails
A selection of vegan cocktails, in tribute to Donald Watson — ask your bartender. See the cocktail bar page.
Plant-Based Tapas
Kerala-style small plates built on tofu, soya, tapioca and sweet potato. See the vegan tapas page.
Wine & Spirits
Ask which wines and spirits suit a vegan diet and we'll point you the right way.
Allergen Questions Welcome
If you have an allergy or dietary need, tell your server — we're happy to talk through ingredients.
The Name Behind The Bar
Who Was Donald Watson?
Donald Watson (1910–2005) was a woodwork teacher with a lifelong interest in animal welfare. Living in Leicester in the 1940s, he and a small group of friends broke away from the Vegetarian Society to form the Vegan Society in 1944 — and coined the word “vegan” from the first three and last two letters of “vegetarian”.
Watson's Cocktail Bar takes his name as a small tribute to that local history. The bar itself is a classic cocktail bar; the tribute lives in the vegan options we always keep on the menu.
Read The Full Story
Vegan, Explained
What Makes A Cocktail Vegan?
- No egg white in sours and fizzes — plant-based foams or aquafaba instead
- No honey — agave or other syrups in its place
- Spirits and wines checked for animal-derived fining agents
- Garnishes and syrups made without dairy or animal products
- Staff who can talk you through ingredients
- Clear answers when you ask about allergens
Find Us
94 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 1DJ
In the heart of Leicester city centre.
FAQ
Vegan Cocktails & Tapas FAQ
Watson's is a classic cocktail bar named in tribute to Donald Watson, co-founder of the Vegan Society. Vegan cocktails and a plant-based tapas menu are available, alongside classic cocktails, wine and whisky.
A selection of vegan cocktails is available. Ask your bartender to point you to them and to check any ingredient you're unsure about.
The small plates are plant-based Kerala-style dishes — including tofu, soya, tapioca and sweet potato. Please ask about allergens when you order.
Vegan cocktails avoid animal-derived ingredients such as egg white, honey and some fined wines or spirits. Plant-based alternatives are used instead.
Donald Watson (1910–2005) was a woodwork teacher who lived in Leicester, co-founded the Vegan Society in 1944 and helped coin the word 'vegan'.
94 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 1DJ, open Thursday to Saturday, with private hire Sunday to Wednesday.
