Henderson's vegetarian restaurant in Edinburgh set to close after 58 years

Henderson's is the UK's longest running vegetarian restaurant

An Edinburgh institution which pioneered the UK’s first family-owned vegetarian restaurant is set to close its doors after 58 years in the business.

Award-winning restaurant Henderson’s of Hanover Street opened its doors in April 1962 after founder Janet Henderson, having travelled in Europe in the 1930s, was inspired by the trends and health benefits in organic and vegetarian food emerging at that time.

After marrying farmer Mac Henderson, she opened firstly at 92 Hanover Street as a farm shop selling surplus fruit and vegetables from their organic market garden on the family farm in East Lothian with a hope to educate the resident’s of Edinburgh on the benefits of a healthy diet.

In April 1963, she opened up the Salad Table, a vegetarian restaurant in the basement of the shop at 94 Hanover Street.

Vegetarianism and veganism was unheard back in the 1960s, and Janet would never advertise that the business was such so as not to discourage people from the offering. Her aim was to create a relaxed environment - to welcome everyone through the door for simple, wholesome and great food.

Janet had seven children and four of the siblings have worked within the business at some stage between 1962 and 2018, with grandchildren now involved.

Oliver Henderson and Catherine Home, the two youngest of Janet’s children are the directors of Henderson’s of Hanover Street and Henderson’s Holyrood.

Mac Henderson lived to 101 years of age and this was testament to the healthy lifestyle he led. He was a rugby player and won three caps from the Edinburgh Academicals club as a forward in the Scotland team that won the Triple Crown in 1933.

The iconic Salad Table restaurant in Edinburgh’s historic New Town, Henderson’s Vegan restaurant on Thistle Street, the original Henderson’s Shop & Deli on the corner of Hanover and Thistle Street, and their newest venture which opened in 2015, Henderson’s Holyrood will not reopen after the pandemic.

In a statement from the family, they said that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on business had proved too much to keep the restaurant running and that the restaurant had made the ‘very difficult decision’ to go into voluntary liquidation.

A member of the family said: “Our family has been privileged to play our part in Janet and Mac's great adventure that has been so well supported over the years by many wonderful customers, staff and suppliers whom we would like to thank.

"It has been a very difficult decision. There have been many challenging times however Covid was the final straw and it is with deep regret we have had to go into voluntary liquidation.

"The three restaurants and deli will not re-open and the staff and suppliers have been informed. We shall all miss being part of Edinburgh’s bustling restaurant scene.”

Many employees over the years having worked in Henderson’s have gone on to start their own ventures such as David Bann, Chris Graham -owner of The Magnum and Simon Hope – Food for Thought in London.

Janet Henderson died in 1973, after returning home from travelling in South East Asia and the business was left to her children. Over the years, the family acquired the Vegan Restaurant, 23 Thistle Street and The Wine Bar in the basement adjacent to The Salad Table.

Their company values of seasonal, local, healthy and organic food is what the family has tried to live by, in line with the motto of eat better, live better.

Henderson’s was the longest running vegetarian restaurant in the UK.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director