Recylced and upcycled furniture has been used to kit out Hullabaloo, a new vegan cafe which has opened in Ipswich town centre.

Partners Jon Halls and Jennie Debenham are behind the new cafe in Cemetery Road, which offers not only meat and dairy free dishes but also gluten free options.

Embracing their passion for sustainabiity, the cafe owners have fitted the place out - wherever possible - with upcylcled and recycled furniture.

Jennie said: “We have been trying to start a vegan cafe for a while now. We found a couple of places in the town centre, but they fell through.

“We found this place was empty and totally refurbished it.

“We want it to be a community project as much as for us. We are getting to know the neighbours.

“I have been vegan for 15 years and I am passionate about it, particularly local food and produce. We are using produce from a local community garden.”

They opened a few days ago, with coffee, tea and cakes and are offering hot foods at weekends.

Jon said: “We are taking it slowly at first. The idea is that everything is cooked fresh; and there is as little waste as possible. I prefer to say it is plant-based food.”

One old sofa was snapped up for £23 from Clarke & Simpson’s auction at Campsea Ashe and updated. There are chairs from Arlingtons which have been re-painted and covered and Jon made some tables from unwanted industrial palettes. And hanging directions have come from the Re-Create project workshop in Ipswich.

Previously Jennie had run a cafe in Cambridge and also a charity project producing three-course meals from left-over food, charging £10 a head and sending the money to a school project in Kenya.

Jon said: “Jennie is very good at sourcing products that are ethical and fit her beliefs. She is a bit of a pioneer in these areas.”

The couple, who have a son Jesse, are also involved in music.

Jon works as a African and Caribbean drummer and percussion teacher, and also works in music therapy in schools.

“We also have a percussion-led band,” he said.

The new cafe would be available for community use, outside opening hours, he said.

“Anything really, if people want to run workshops, have a knitting group or meet for a games night. I would like to see films with discussions afterwards.”

The new cafe has a Facebook page, he added.