Horse meat caused protests in Poland
Why activists are protesting outside the restaurant
The restaurant, Tatarland, opened in the center of Katowice on July 10 of this year. Its menu features various types of meat, including beef, venison, roe deer, mouflon, and horse meat. Among the items offered are horse meat tartare and steak.
It was the presence of horsemeat that sparked outrage among members of "Aktywiści Abolicjoniści" (Abolitionist Activists). This Polish animal rights organization campaigns for the total "animal liberation" and the end of all forms of animal exploitation by humans.
Just weeks after the restaurant opened, they began holding demonstrations outside the premises. The protests continue to this day.
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Post by Aktywiści Abolicjoniści (@aktywisci_abolicjonisci)
Activists arrive at the restaurant with placards, photographs of horses—including images of animals in slaughterhouses—and megaphones. Their primary demand is the removal of horse meat from the menu.
They stated that they oppose not only horse meat but the killing of animals for food in general. However, the current focus of their campaign is centered specifically on horses.
"This restaurant also serves meat from other animals, such as deer, roe deer, and mouflons. We also do not agree with killing them. However, we know that today we cannot defeat the hunting culture and the general acceptance of consuming so-called game in Poland. That is why today we are fighting for the horses," representatives of the movement emphasized.
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According to them, horses should be perceived primarily as companion animals rather than a food source. They compare eating horse meat to eating dog or cat meat, pointing to the special status horses hold in society.
Restaurant refuses to yield to activists
Meanwhile, according to local media, the restaurant refuses to remove horse meat from the menu. The owner points out that selling such meat is legal, and the horse meat tartare for 78 PLN (approx. 9,200 tenge) and horse meat steak for 142 PLN (approx. 16,700 tenge) are among the establishment's most popular dishes.
The protests have also affected neighboring businesses on Dworcowa Street. Some restaurant owners complain that the noisy demonstrations are causing customers to avoid the area.
In one instance, city authorities had to intervene, dispersing the gathering due to excessive noise levels.
Why the horse debate is so heated in Poland
The controversy surrounding Tatarland has emerged against the backdrop of a broader discussion in Poland regarding the treatment of horses. One of the most debated issues involves tourist trips to Lake Morskie Oko in the Polish Tatra Mountains. Tourists are traditionally transported there by horse-drawn carriages, a practice animal rights activists have opposed for several years.
In August 2024, a protest against the use of horses for tourist transport was also held near Morskie Oko. A conflict broke out between activists and their opponents, requiring police intervention.
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Thus, the Tatarland incident has become another chapter in the debate over the role horses should play in modern Polish society—whether as livestock, a means of transport, participants in equestrian sports, or companion animals.
For now, the parties to the conflict have reached no agreement: activists intend to continue their protests, while the restaurant has no plans to stop serving horse meat dishes.