Veggie breakfast you can't eat outdoors

6:00pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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A COUPLE who hoped to enjoy breakfast overlooking the sea had their plans scuppered after a Southend restaurant slapped a ban on serving a vegetarian meal outside.

Anthony and Andrea Martin ordered a vegetarian breakfast and full English breakfast at the Ocean Beach restaurant, but were left stunned when staff told them the non-meat option couldn't be eaten outside.

Mrs Martin, 42, from Bishopsteignton, Shoebury, and her 50-year-old husband were left with no alternative but to eat apart or leave the restaurant which boasts a terrace with stunning views over the sea.

Mrs Martin said: "I couldn't believe my ears.

"I asked them if I was missing something, but they said only the meat option could be eaten on the terrace.

"The only difference between the two was a vegetarian sausage instead of a meat one, but they wouldn't budge."

John Bacon, who owns the restaurant, said: "We have separate menus for inside and one for the bar and decking area.

"Staff have been told not to serve anything from the inside menu outside, but there was an oversight because the vegetarian breakfast should have been on the outside menu as well.

"It is not that we have anything against vegetarians.

"We are reviewing our menus."