Video and pictures: DIY SOS star Nick Knowles launches his new vegan restaurant in Shrewsbury
He's no stranger to Shropshire having helped transform some of the county's homes as part of DIY SOS.
But presenter Nick Knowles was yesterday in Shrewsbury kicking off his latest venture – a vegan restaurant in Wyle Cop.
The presenter was at O'Joy for the venue's official re-launch after hearing about the cafe while filming in Ludlow last month. He met members of the public for two hours during the day.
Earlier this month, Knowles said he had been at a retreat in Thailand when he discovered the health benefits of a predominantly veggie diet and wanted to get more involved.
He said: "I am really enjoying being part of this so far. I have been vegan for a while now and I am not what people would typically think of as a vegan, being six foot and a rugby player and stocky adult male.
"But that is the point – we want people to come in and try the food because they will enjoy it.
"The trouble is people think vegan is a cult and a tribe they don't belong to but it is about making it part of your weekly routine. If you eat this stuff once a week it will make you healthier, if you eat it fives times a week it will make you much healthier.
"We want to make it less exclusive and more accessible as everyone should be able to enjoy the health benefits."
The cafe is dairy-free, egg-free and has gluten-free options to cater for people with allergies and will open as a bistro at night and offer a new takeaway menu.
Becky Porter originally opened the cafe in 2013 after eating healthily and trying alternative therapies helped her battle with depression.
She said Knowles would be in and out of the cafe on a regular basis and would help promote it as much as he could.
She said: "The launch has gone really well, people have been enjoying the food and we are really pleased.
"Nick found out about us when he was in the county filming and came in to chat about the business."
The town centre cafe, which will also offer alternative therapy, will open 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
It will also open from 6pm to 9pm from Thursday to Saturday.
For more information search OJoy Wellness on Facebook.
