Natty from Natty’s Jerk shares the story behind his journey from black cab driver to building a successful Caribbean food business. Taking us through the highs and lows of his journey, Natty explains how his Caribbean background, love of food and determination to build something of his own have shaped the business he runs today.

Growing up in a Caribbean household, food was always a big part of Natty’s life, from family celebrations to bringing people together. After working as a London black cab driver, Natty eventually turned his passion for food into a business, starting out cooking from home in Portsmouth before building Natty’s Jerk into an award-winning Caribbean food experience.

About Natty’s Jerk

Natty’s Jerk began in 2017, with Natty cooking Caribbean food from home in Portsmouth before demand led to a market stall on Commercial Road and eventually the opening of The Shack. The family-run business has since grown into multiple locations, bringing Jamaican flavours, culture, music and conversation to customers across the UK. In 2024, Natty’s Jerk was named Uber Eats’ Restaurant of the Year.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Natty’s journey from working as a black cab driver to building a career in hospitality.

• How growing up in a Caribbean household shaped his relationship with food and cooking.

• The story behind starting Natty’s Jerk and turning a passion for Caribbean food into a growing business.

• Why food plays such an important role in Caribbean culture, celebrations and bringing people together.

• The highs and lows of starting and running a hospitality business.

• How Natty approached catering, events and feeding large numbers of people.

• The importance of staying true to your roots while creating a food experience that connects with customers.

• What keeps Natty motivated through the difficult parts of running a hospitality business.

Tune in for an honest conversation about Natty’s journey, Caribbean food, entrepreneurship and what it really takes to build something of your own in hospitality.

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