New plant-based takeaway opens in St Leonards with help from CHART

Roots, a freshly green-painted shop front in the trendy Kings Road in St Leonards on Sea, is a new take on plant based food takeaway for the area – and has already been a hit selling a variety of raw salads and juices since its open in Autumn 2021.

Let’s Do Business Group are very pleased to have had a part in helping with the launch of Roots through the CHART* programme and providing expert advice through Business Manager Rupert Kirby.

The owner of Roots says that the opening of the new shop gives locals ‘the opportunity to eat very healthy food’ and joins other trendy food vendors in the area that are breathing new life into the centre of St Leonards – like vibrant Heist Market and Brewing Brothers to name a few.

A Fresh Take on the St Leonards high street

Food takeaways that offer vegetarian and vegan options have become more prevalent in the last few years, especially in the Hastings and St Leonards area, but Roots is a fresh take (pun intended) to offering alternative yet quick and easy healthy food on the high street, in an ideal location next to St Leonard’s Warrior Square station where it can capture the attention of commuters and locals alike.

Roots is the brainchild of Bill Brewin who got into plant-based and vegan food after experimenting with his diet while travelling and noticing the benefits of eating vegan and raw food.

“Having had some experiences travelling around and working in projects where everyone was vegan, and all the meals were vegan, I just noticed how much more comfortable that was for my body. My energy levels were much more consistent. I didn’t have that lethargic feeling after eating a massive meal.”

“I think it’s quite clear that your diet has to play a huge role in your mental health, and I think that’s an issue that a lot of people are dealing with, with the Covid situation” He added.

From a farm in Greece

While travelling, Billy worked at a permaculture farm in Greece while sparked him with the idea for Roots. He spoke of his experience growing and eating organic food there - “probably the peak of my existence in terms of feeling good” – and about how this made him want to open his plant-based takeaway shop in St Leonards and bring that experience to local people.

A place where people can feel good

With the weather steadily getting colder, Billy is expanding into warm food and looking at doing a Malaysian-style, peanut butter-based vegetable stir fry with noodles, and a pumpkin and coconut soup. After that, he aims to put on some Indian and Indonesian vegetable dishes.

Billy has plans for bar stools for inside the shop so that Roots can become not only a takeaway, but a place where people can come to eat and feel good about what they’re putting in their body.

“People can come in, they can have some food, and I’m sure that they’ll be looking back at that day of the week, thinking, ‘I felt really good that day and I don’t really know why.’ And slowly enough people will realise that eating fresh produce speaks for itself.”

Support from Let’s Do Business Group

Billy received support from Business Manager Rupert Kirby through 12 hours of free business support and advice through the CHART* programme to ensure he had everything in order before opening his premises on Kings Road.

“The support I received from this organisation and specifically from Mr Rupert Kirby was priceless. I enjoyed every moment working with this man and believe I would not have been able to achieve opening this business if it was not for him and Let’s Do Business. I can’t thank you enough.”

He added: “I’m really enjoying being here. The locals are lovely and I’m having repeat customers which is a good sign. And I’m slowly gaining a bigger social media following, and just enjoying it.”

We all wish Billy and Roots the best of luck!