Pandemic or Plandemic? The conspiracy

Best burger in the city

(and guess what ... it’s vegan!)

By CHARLIE LAU

Duke Street’s exceeding- “You can see the evidence that ly popular basement veganism is on the rise just through diner Down The Hatch going to the supermarket. Three years has been named as ago you might have found one or two one of the best burger types of vegan sausages, now you joints in the country. will find plenty.”

Stagweb, a ‘stag do’ planning web- But does Down The Hatch really site, recently compiled a list of the have the best burger experience in top 30 burger restaurants in the UK Merseyside, or does nothing still beat based on dining experience and value a good beef burger? for money and Down The Hatch Lola Jones, 27, couldn’t resist going was the only Liverpool restaurant back for more after her first visit. She to feature, beating off competition said: “Although I’m pescatarian and from some other beloved outlets in not vegan myself, the food at Down Merseyside. The Hatch rivals any other fast food

The website had high praise for “I’ve tried before, plant based or Liverpool’s vegan fast food diner, not. With helpful service, an intimate declaring that the joint is ‘testament atmosphere and joyful food, it creates to the fact that you don’t need meat to an all-round brilliant experience enjoy a deliciously dirty burger’. which I recommend to anyone in

In an age where the growing desire Liverpool!” for a healthier lifestyle has seen Daniel Chinn, a 22-year-old veganism expand, it seems as though aspiring actor from Milton Keynes, Down The Hatch is leading the way confessed: “It’s hard to beat a beef for similar trendy diners looking for a burger, but the burgers at Down sustainable future. The Hatch come really close. I’m

A 300% increase in UK vegans not usually a fan of vegan food and since 2014 has seen vegan joints it took me some convincing to get all across the country begin to take down there, but, I’m not going to lie, centre stage over more typical burger I’m glad I did.” joints. With veganism as the top consumer

With only 40% of the global trend in 2018, it is the junk food population projected to consume joints that are helping the lifestyle to meat by 2040, it appears that vegan become more and more mainstream, restaurants are becoming economical- says the Vegan Society. ly viable as well as environmentally Duke Street’s hidden bunker is strong. somewhere that ardent meat eaters

Rikki Baker of Down The Hatch and zealous veggies can harmonioussaid: “The good thing about now is ly enjoy their meals and it is places that there is a big push for veganism, such as these which are undoubtedly and with demand comes creation. For helping to promote the vegan diet to the last few years, people have started even its most hesitant opposers. to think about their own health and Rikki Baker added: “This is my the environment, so since we have family’s restaurant. It’s the most imopened, more and more places keep portant part of my life. It’s probably popping up around Liverpool. one of our greatest achievements.”

It took me some convincing to get down there, but, I’m not going to lie, I’m glad I did , ‘

Veganism in numbers:

• In 2018, the UK launched more vegan products than any other nation • The number of vegans in Great Britain quadrupled between 2014 and 2019, from 150,000 to 600,000 • Vegan meals are the fastest growing takeaway choice in the UK • Vegans and vegetarians will make up a quarter of the UK population by 2025 From the Vegan Society

When business as usual

Covid-19 has had a huge impact on working lives. Liverpool Life speaks to selfemployed people on their challenges

© Dani Stewart

Everything has been turned upside down

By ELEANOR DOWD

Many makeup artists work for themselves and so they rely totally on their clients to fund their income. Although they are physically able to get back to work now, while taking extra precautions, their professional work is still being affected by the pandemic.

Dani Stewart says her life as a self-employed make-up artist has been turned upside down. “My work has been massively affected by coronavirus, due to my clientele being my wage. I’ve really had to adapt to continue making money, by creating online courses, doing make-up tutorials on my social media accounts, promoting offers and also producing gift vouchers that my clients can use for future appointments.”

Along with changing the way she makes her income, the Liverpool-based make-up artist has also had to take extra precautions when doing her clients’ makeup.

“I wear a mask and a visor and I take an extra 30 minutes after each appointment to sanitise my work space,” she said.

“I cleanse my brushes, make-up, my make-up chair, my phone after taking pictures, literally anything I have touched, even the gate my clients have touched to enter! My clients also wear a mask until I do their face make-up and everyone applies hand sanitiser once they arrive.” Social media is a huge part of self-employed people’s work, whether it’s make-up, nails, baking and many other businesses because it’s their way of showcasing their talent and getting their name out there, in order to build up a clientele. Dani explained the pressure she feels to stay relevant.

“I feel forced to keep my social media accounts up to date, especially because my engagement on Instagram is a lot lower as I’m seeing fewer clients,” she said.

“I feel pressured to post content every day, because we have to stay relevant if we went to be successful.”

Dani also explained how the government has helped her financially.

“During lockdown, self-employed people were given access to two grants. The first grant was 80% of our wages based on our tax returns and the second grant was 70% of our wages based of our tax returns,” she noted.

Although make-up artists like Dani are able to get back to work, it seems things will not be the same for quite some time yet.