Team GB sprinter Darryll Neita (last month’s LOTI guest editor) and her brother Drue had heard their mum Susie saying for years how much she wanted to create a Jamaican takeaway. She spent more than 40 years working as an accountant, but food was always the dream.
Then Covid changed everything. They all thought, if not now, when? With the help of Susie’s partner, Roots, who’s a chef from Jamaica, they printed a few leaflets, cooked from home and hoped someone would order. The phone didn’t stop ringing. What started as a few meals for their local community quickly became something much bigger. They were all still working full time, but the orders kept growing until they reached a crossroads. Susie had always been the one backing Drue and Darryll, so it finally felt like their turn to help her chase the dream she’d put on hold for decades. That’s when Reggae Shack was born.
Getting there wasn’t always easy. Finding somewhere that could legally cook jerk chicken was harder than you’d think, and they looked at countless sites before finally opening their shop in Charlton. But every challenge reminded them why they started. They weren’t trying to follow trends. They just wanted to share a little piece of Jamaica, from fresh halal jerk and homemade mac and cheese to sea moss drinks and the recipes that had always been part of their family.
The biggest surprise has been who’s walking through their door. TikTok has brought people from across London and even from overseas to try the food. TLC and Charlton Football Club have even visited! Some are tasting Caribbean food for the very first time. Others tell us it reminds them of the London they grew up in 30 years ago, where independent family businesses were at the heart of every neighbourhood.
Watch the video to learn more and be sure to visit.
