Simply Ask

Simply Ask banner

RSPCA's Freedom Food Simply Ask campaign, launched October 2009, aims to get people asking about food provenance  when eating out to encourage restaurants, pubs and cafes to source from higher welfare businesses.

Kicking off with eggs, Simply Ask is a call to action. It wants people to ask whenever they're eating out - be it their local restaurant, pub or cafe -  whether they use eggs from un-caged hens - ie, free-range or barn. At present, 80% of eggs used in food service (restaurants, pubs and cafes) and ready-made food products are from hens kept in cruel cages. While this is a reduction from 85%, there is still a long way to go. Find out more about Freedom Food egg standards in Crackingly Good Eggs.


So help support the campaign by simply asking whenever you eat out whether they use only barn, free-range or organic eggs in their cooking.

We're proud that FoodLoversBritain.com Approved restaurants, pubs and cafes across the country are taking part in Simply Ask.
Click here to see our Simply Ask Map.
 

Simply ask

Where Do You Want to Eat?


London     South-West     South-East      Wales         Midlands
Eastern    North-West      North-East       Scotland

 

London restaurants

Simply Ask in London


Central London
Arbutus - Anthony Demetre's Modern British take...

The National Dining Rooms - Oliver Peyton's all-day diner in the Gallery...

Wild Honey - Fine dining from Anthony Demetre...

North London
Morgan M - Innovative French-leaning cuisine...

The Compass - A gastropub run by dedicated foodies...

South London
Ransome's Dock - Modern European by the river...

The Cinnamon Club - Fine Indian in the heart of Westminster...

The Nightingale - Good pub grub...

Tom Aikens & Tom's Kitchen - Modern British cooking...

Tom Ilic - Substantial but refined flavours...

The Victoria - Paul Merrett's new gastropub...

East London
Cafe Spice - Relaxed Indian cooking from Cyrus Todiwala...

St John - Nose to tail eating...

The Cinnamon Kitchen - Informal version of Cinnamon Club...

The Coach and Horses - Gastropub with everything from scratch...

The Modern Pantry - Anna Hansen's new fusion food...

The Refinery - Uber-trendy bar on the Southbank...

The Restaurant at St Paul's - Dine in the cathedral itself...

Vanilla Black - Creative passionate vegetarian cooking...

West London
Le Cafe Anglais - Rowley Leigh's star-studded haunt...

Seasoning - Indian-Chinese fusion...

 
"We as consumers have the power of choice. Intensive farming techniques are not acceptable in any situation. I choose free-range eggs for all my cookery." Candice Webber, Executive Chef, The Restaurant at St Paul's
 

Henrietta signing the Simply Ask egg


Joined by a host of MPs and celebrity chefs including Antony Worrall-Thompson, Henrietta signed the Simply Ask Egg in Victoria Tower Gardens by the Palace of Westminster on 21 October 2009.

“The message is simple: ‘Simply Ask’ what eggs are being used next time you eat out and help make a difference to the lives of millions of hens.”

 

Simply ask

Simply Ask - The Facts
An average of 183 eggs per person were eaten in 2008

 

south west

Simply Ask in the South West2

Cornwall
Carruan Farm Centre, Polzeath - Feast in their on-site cafe...

The Mill House, Tintagel - Makes the most of its coastal location...

Devon
The Mason's Arms, Knowstone - Picturesque and full of character...

The New Angel, Dartmouth - John Burton Race's harbour-side restaurant...

Dorset
The Talbot, Blandford - Pub with rooms in beautiful countryside...

Gloucestershire
The Retreat, Cheltenham - Light lunches with an eclectic wine list...

Somerset
Bordeaux Quay, Bristol - Barny Haughton's well-loved Bristol institution...

Clavelshay Barn Restaurant, Bridgewater - set in idyllic surroundings...

Ode Restaurant, Shaldon - prepare absolutely everything from scratch...

Wiltshire

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

 

Raymond Blanc

"Part of my upbringing was knowing where the food on our table came from and our menus at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and Brasserie Blanc are written to stimulate our guests to ask the very same questions we ask of our suppliers. I love the fact that guests are encouraged to 'Simply Ask' - why not? I do so myself!"  Raymond Blanc, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

 

South east restaurants

Simply Ask in the South East


Berkshire
The Royal Oak, Maidenhead - Michael Parkinson's gastropub...

Windsor Grill, Windsor - AWT's meat-focussed grill room...

Buckinghamshire

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

Hampshire
Hotel Terravina, Netley Marsh - A breath of California in the New Forest...

Isle of Wight

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

Kent
The Plough at Wavendon, Wavendon - Excellent sourcing meets French-style cooking...

The West House, Biddenden - 'Ruthlessly seasonal' Michelin-starred restaurant...

Oxfordshire
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Great Milton - Dine chez Raymond Blanc...

The Fishes, North Hinksey - Enjoy a picnic from the bar in their wooded grounds...

The Fleece, Witney - Menus make the most of local ingredients...

The Thatch, Thame - A Peach Pub, it's tucked just off the high street for a welcome pick-me-up...

Surrey
Exotic Tagine, Kingston - North African food-to-go...

The Inn @West End, Woburn - They take fierce pride in sourcing locally...

Petersham Nurseries, Richmond - Skye Gyngell's constantly-surprising cafe...

Kew Grill, Richmond - AWT's meat-focussed grill-room...

La Barbe, Reigate - Classic, seasonal, French cooking...

Sussex
Burpham Country House, Burpham - Fine dining with local ingredients...

Casson's Restaurant, Tangmere - Vivid British cooking...

Netherwood Lodge, Chiddingly - A firm policy on using only natural ingredients...

 

Simply ask

Simply Ask - The Facts
There are about 30 million laying hens in the UK - that's about 1 hen for every two people

 

Wales restaurants

Simply Ask in Wales


Ty Mawr Country Hotel, Carmarthen - Ingredients mostly sourced from the valley...

Y Polyn, Carmarthen - Good simple - but gutsy - pub food...

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

 

Midlands restaurants

Simply Ask in the Midlands


Shropshire
Berry's Coffee House, Church Stretton - Daytime dishes with local ingredients...

Warwickshire
The Almanack, Kenilworth - Part of Peach Pubs, sourcing locally as possible...

The One Elm, Stratford - Typical Victorian-style pub serving good ethically-aware food...

The Rose & Crown, Warwick - A Peach Pub with a good local sourcing policy...

West Midlands
Opus, Birmingham - Sourcing is entirely British and as local as can be...

Derbyshire. Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Staffordshire, Worcestershire

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us 

 

Vivek Singh

"I doubt if I love any one ingredient more than I love eggs. Eggs have been one of the few constants throughout my life whilst all other kinds of food have come in and out of favour all the time." Vivek Singh, Cinnamon Club

 

Eastern counties

Simply Ask in the East


Bedfordshire
The Black Horse, Milton Keynes - Local sourcing is at the heart of their food policy...

The Embankment, Bedford - Set right on the river with extensive views...

The Swan, Salford - Take a cooking masterclass in the pub...

Cambridgeshire
Alimentum, Cambridge - Menu known for its ethical awareness and sustainability...

Essex

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

Hertfordshire
The Old Mill, Berkhamsted - Enjoy Sunday lunch by the restored working watermill...

The Sun at Northaw - Country pub serving sophisticated food...

Lincolnshire

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

Norfolk
Morston Hall, Holt - Impeccable local sourcing from Galton Blackiston...

Northamptonshire

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

Suffolk
The Sanctuary, Ipswich - Generous lunchtime platters in unexpected surroundings...

 

Simply ask

Simply Ask - The Facts
26% of eggs produced in the UK go into food service. In 2008 80% of eggs used in food service and ready-made products still came from caged hens.

 

north west restaurants

Simply Ask in the North West


Cumbria
Lancrigg Organic Vegetarian Hotel, Grasmere - Open all day, the restaurant is brimming with green credentials...

Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

 

Simply ask

Simply Ask - The Facts
The proportion of eggs produced by hens reared on barn, free-range or organic farms has increased in the last decade from 12% of eggs in 1996 to 44% in 2009.

 

North east restaurants

Simply Ask in the North East


Darlington
The Bay Horse, Hurworth - Traditional pub with classic menu...

Northumberland
The Feathers Inn, Stocksfield - Family-run pub glorying in regional cooking...

Durham, Hartlepool, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

 

Scotland banner

Simply Ask in Scotland


Ninth Wave Restaurant, Isle of Mull - Tasting plates include seafood straight from the boats...

The Left Bank, Glasgow - With its eclectic menu, you can stay from brunch to cocktails...

If you know of a place to eat or want to nominate yourself for Simply Ask, simply email us

 

Egg recipes

let us know


When eating out, do you ask about the provenance of your food? Tell us your experiences of eating out...

Nominate your local restaurant, pub or cafe for Simply Ask -simply email us with name of the restaurant and its contact details

Own or run a restaurant, pub or cafe and want to take part in Simply Ask? email us here

 

Egg-splore More Websites on Eggs

Little Green Book of Crackingly Good Eggs

RSPCA Freedom Food Simply Ask