• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Vegetarian Hotel, Restaurant and Health Food Shop on Corporation Street

T

TVS

New Member
M

Post in thread 'James Henry Cook - First Health Food Business'

Great photos - a good subject for a BBC4 documentary by Dan Cruikshank!

Hello

I am came across an interesting thread on here about James Henry Cook - First Health Food Business from over a decade ago. I am researching local history for a project about vegetarian and veganism in Birmingham.

The First Vegetarian Restaurant And Hotel
In the summer of 1898 the first Vegetarian hotel in England, called 'The Pitman Vegetarian Hotel', opened on Corporation Street in Birmingham. It was named after Sir Isaac Pitman, inventor of Pitman short-hand [a widely used system to help people take rapid notes] who was the vice-president of the Vegetarian Society at that time.
The hotel was home to one of Britain’s first vegetarian restaurants, which reportedly counted Mahatma Gandhi among its customers.
The restaurant was managed by James Henry Cook. He also managed England's first health food shop in Birmingham, the Pitman Health Food Co. (also called Pitman Reform Food Stores) at Aston Brook Street, Birmingham, advertising in 1909 as "The Largest Health Food Dealers in the World". The Health Food Store sold nuts, cereals, fruits and vegetable, later expanding into wholemeal produce.

I am going to try the Birmingham Library Archive but thought I would initially try this forum. I am seeking information, articles and images.

Thank you
H
 
TVS said:
M

Post in thread 'James Henry Cook - First Health Food Business'

Great photos - a good subject for a BBC4 documentary by Dan Cruikshank!

Hello

I am came across an interesting thread on here about James Henry Cook - First Health Food Business from over a decade ago. I am researching local history for a project about vegetarian and veganism in Birmingham.

The First Vegetarian Restaurant And Hotel
In the summer of 1898 the first Vegetarian hotel in England, called 'The Pitman Vegetarian Hotel', opened on Corporation Street in Birmingham. It was named after Sir Isaac Pitman, inventor of Pitman short-hand [a widely used system to help people take rapid notes] who was the vice-president of the Vegetarian Society at that time.
The hotel was home to one of Britain’s first vegetarian restaurants, which reportedly counted Mahatma Gandhi among its customers.
The restaurant was managed by James Henry Cook. He also managed England's first health food shop in Birmingham, the Pitman Health Food Co. (also called Pitman Reform Food Stores) at Aston Brook Street, Birmingham, advertising in 1909 as "The Largest Health Food Dealers in the World". The Health Food Store sold nuts, cereals, fruits and vegetable, later expanding into wholemeal produce.

I am going to try the Birmingham Library Archive but thought I would initially try this forum. I am seeking information, articles and images.

Thank you
H
Click to expand...
And welcome to BHF! If you've not used Birmingham Library Archives before then you will need an archives card and an appointment. https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50134/archives_and_collections/1552/archives_and_collections

I took a quick look at the archive online catalogue and found nothing, but they may have paper catalogues. https://calmview.birmingham.gov.uk/CalmView/

Good Luck in your researches.
Derek
 
There's also this thread, Prana, which was located on Colmore Circus - around in the 1960s/70s.

Vivienne14

Post in thread 'Prana (health food shop and restaurant)'

In the 1970s I suddenly took up a health food diet, not extreme, but just eating healthier. Made my own yoghurt, baked whole meal bread and pies made with whole meal flour and ate lots of veggies. Yoghurt was great, bread and pastry was dense and heavy going. Veggies got pretty boring after a while. But now..........

All this has moved on. There's more inspiration around to make nice healthy meals and lots of ideas for interesting recipes. But I do wonder if all that effort in the 70s ever balanced out the damage of the rampant drinking and smoking of my youth?!!

Viv.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top