Animal rebellion protestors occupy restaurants in London and Newcastle

Animal Rebellion protesters targeted two Michelin-starred restaurants on Saturday, bringing further disruption to the hospitality industry on what should have been one of the busiest weekends of the year.

At around 5pm nine supporters of the activist group occupied Kenny Atkinson’s Newcastle restaurant House of Tides.

Two hours later, at around 7pm, eight people occupied two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London’s Knightsbridge.

At both restaurants supporters of Animal Rebellion occupied tables reserved for customers and held mock menus outlining the group’s core demands.

Animal Rebellion is calling for a plant-based food system and mass rewilding programme to tackle the climate and cost-of-living crises.

The protest saw police attend House of Tides (pictured).

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “Shortly before 6pm on Saturday, officers were made aware of an on-going protest at a premise on the Quayside, Newcastle. Officers attended and engaged with those at the scene who left at around 6.30pm.”

This weekend’s protests were the latest in the group’s targeted action at venue’s across the country including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et Steakhouse in London as well as Mana restaurant in Manchester.

Simon Martin, chef-patron of Michelin-starred restaurant Mana, questioned why the group had targeted his "highly sustainable restaurant" on 3 December.

He said: "Mana has always been a highly sustainable restaurant, sourcing hyper local and sustainably-produced vegetables from small businesses just like ourselves who abstain from GMOs, herbicides and pesticides. Farms for livestock we use are personally visited by members of the team to ensure standards there meet our criteria for supply, and seafood is strictly captured by hand or line.

"The cost of a meal at Mana is reflective of these production methods, which are lower yield and higher quality. It's ironic that the protesters who are campaigning for better food supply do not realise the cost attached to the quality, leading us to believe they do not fully understand their cause."

Following the targeting of Gordon Ramsay restaurant on 19 November a spokesperson said: "Everyone is entitled to their opinions and beliefs. However, to force your way into a restaurant, disturbing hard-working staff going about their jobs and ruining the evening of guests who have waited months for their reservations is incredibly inappropriate and deeply disrespectful."