Its a great shame if any vegetarian restaurant is closing, particularly one of such calibre, said chef and food writer Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Photograph: Alamy

One of Londons most iconic vegetarian restaurants, Food For Thought in Covent Garden, is set to close after more than 40 years of business because of the areas rising rent prices.

The busy cafe, known for serving up consistently good food at reasonable prices and being popular with celebrities such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mark Strong, will be closing for good on 21 June this year.

A statement on the restaurants website said: The time has come to call it a day. For more than 40 years Food For Thought has withstood the corporate march, refusing to be processed, packaged or pocketed. For as long as was viable we have remained resolutely independent, offering food that is unashamedly home-spun and hand-made. We have loved being here and hope you have too.

Laura Roberts, 29, who has been working as a waitress at the cafe for two years, said the closure feels like the end of an era: Its very sad. Weve had lots of support from local people that have been coming for years, but unfortunately it just seems impossible to drag Food For Thought into the future because of the rent hikes.

The news comes at a time when many small businesses in the capital are falling victim to spiralling rents. In nearby Chinatown in the West End, which has been an enclave of oriental food since the 1950s, eateries are being forced to shut as owners are struggling to pay the rising prices.

Roberts feels London is changing and closures such as this have become inevitable: If you cant pay the rent then you cant carry on. Its only chains that can afford to be around here now. I wonder which one will replace it.

Jeremy Lee, a chef and London restaurant owner, is similarly pessimistic. Its very sad that this is happening so much in our beautiful city, he said. Most likely another hideous, ugly block with no one living in it will take its place. Theres very little left in Covent Garden and London is beginning to look just like any other city.

Lee added: Of course things must go on, but if London cant even support small places like this then its quite peculiar. I will miss this area very much. Developers seem to have carte blanche on everything now, its very odd.

According to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the chef and food writer, Food For Thoughts closure will represent a real blow to Londons culinary scene.

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Food For Thought, London's iconic vegetarian restaurant, set for closure

The New York State Fair has restaurants that serve fully loaded Italian Sausage Sandwiches, Shark-on-a-Stick, Kangaroo Spiedies, Donut Burgers, Wine Slushies and just about anything deep-fried.

But it has never had a restaurant that specializes in vegetarian and vegan food. (The Blooming Onion and butter-slathered corn-on-the-cob stands don't seem to count).

This year, the fair is seeking a vendor to operate a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, in a dedicated space inside the International Building.

"We are constantly working to satisfy more of the diverse wants and needs of our fairgoers, and adding vegetarian and vegan food has been at the top of our list," acting fair director Troy Waffner said in a news release.

The winning vendor will be chosen based on the number and variety of both vegetarian and vegan items -- and preference will be given to an applicant who uses New York-grown ingredients. The vendor also must serve non-alcoholic beverages.

The fair defines vegetarian "as a prepared hot or cold dish that excludes any meat, fish, seafood or animal-body by-products such as gelatin, but may include milk, cheese and eggs."

It defines vegan as "a prepared hot or cold dish that excludes any meat, fish, seafood or animal-body by-products such as gelatin, as well as milk, cheese and eggs."

The space is 20 feet by 20 feet, in the southeast corner of the International Building. It was vacant in 2014, and had been the home of La Cuisine. The International Building is home to many of the fair's better known restaurant vendors, such as the Hofbrauhaus, Las Delicias, Paco's Tacos, Stephen's Greek Cuisine and Emmi's Little Italy..

"We don't get many openings in our food vendor ranks, so when this space became available, we saw this as a real opportunity to provide vegetarian and vegan food," Waffner said.

The winning vendor supplies its own equipment and pays an annual rent -- $7,160 for 2015. Applicants must currently be in the restaurant or food service business, and have been in business for the past three years. The fair is also seeking vendors who have a demonstrated knowledge of vegetarian and vegan cooking.

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Deep-fried tofu on a stick? New York State Fair seeks vegetarian/vegan restaurant

The New York State Fair is looking for a vendor that offers vegan and vegetarian food for a space inside the International Building.

Fair officials will accept bids for the 20 feet by 20 feet space in the southeast corner of the International Building, which houses some of the fair's restaurants.

Acting State Fair Director Troy Waffner said with the space open, it provides the fair with an opportunity to bring in a vegan and vegetarian vendor.

"We are constantly working to satisfy more of the diverse wants and needs of our fairgoers, and adding vegetarian and vegan food has been at the top of our list," Waffner said.

The fair will select a vendor based on the variety of items on its menu. Vendors using New York-grown ingredients and products will be given extra consideration, according to fair officials.

Bidders must have been in the food service or restaurant business for at least the past three years and have a knowledge of vegan and vegetarian food preparation.

The winning vendor will pay an annual rent of $7,160 and supply their own equipment. The fair provides electricity, sewer and water services and trash removal. Natural gas service is available on site, but the vendor is responsible for covering any costs.

The deadline for applications is May 1.

The fair runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7.

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Wanted: Vendor to offer vegan and vegetarian food options at New York State Fair