Third Space presents itself as one of London’s most progressive luxury fitness spaces – a brand built around wellness, performance, and modern health. Yet the food culture promoted through their partner, Natural Fitness Food tells a very different story, particularly for vegan members.
Across multiple Third Space locations, including Battersea, vegan food options remain non-existent, despite repeated requests from members for more inclusive plant-based meals. One NFF manager at Third Space Battersea explained the lack of vegan choices by saying there was “no demand” for them. That response feels out of touch with both modern nutrition and the growing number of people choosing plant-based living for ethical, environmental, and health reasons, especially considering that London is the vegan capital of the world.
Natural Fitness Food continues to centre dairy, eggs, and animal protein as the foundation of “fitness nutrition.” Even many of the vegetarian options rely heavily on dairy rather than offering genuinely plant-based alternatives. In a space that claims to prioritise wellness and inclusivity, the message being promoted is clear: animal products are still being treated as essential for strength, recovery, and performance.
That idea is rooted in outdated fitness industry misinformation.
For years, veganism has been unfairly portrayed as nutritionally inadequate, particularly in gym culture. Yet this has been disproven repeatedly by scientific research and by elite athletes thriving on plant-based diets. The reality is that vegan athletes exist at the highest levels across multiple sports.
Patrik Baboumian, one of the world’s strongest men, is vegan. Lewis Hamilton has spoken publicly about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Venus Williams follows a plant-based diet, as do endurance legend Scott Jurek and Olympic cyclist Dotsie Bausch. These athletes directly challenge the stereotype that strength, stamina, or elite performance depend on consuming animal products.
The issue is not simply about menu variety. It is about inclusion.
When a luxury gym repeatedly sidelines vegan members while aggressively promoting dairy and animal-based products, it reinforces the harmful idea that vegan lifestyles are somehow extreme, unhealthy, or incompatible with fitness. That narrative is not only inaccurate — it alienates members who simply want food choices that align with their values and lifestyle.
Wellness should evolve alongside modern understanding of nutrition, ethics, and sustainability. Third Space has the opportunity to lead by offering genuinely inclusive plant-based options through Natural Fitness Food. Right now, however, it feels as though vegan members are being ignored rather than welcomed.