Wandsworth African Caribbean Food Month

About the celebrations

Food is more than just sustenance, it’s a powerful connector across generations, cultures and communities. African and Caribbean food traditions carry stories of migration, resilience, creativity, shared identity and pride.

We’re inviting residents and community groups to help shine a light on Wandsworth’s vibrant African Caribbean heritage - and to support the businesses, chefs and food entrepreneurs who are part of that story.

This is an event by the community, for the community and we'd love you to be a part of it.

The month will launch with a special event featuring local resident and TV chef Ainsley Harriott.

It will include a range of Council-led and community-driven activities, including:

• Cooking workshops
• School activities
• Storytelling sessions
• Live cooking demonstrations
• Panel discussions with local food entrepreneurs
• Library talks and readings by food authors

Who can participate

We are encouraging local businesses, schools, community groups, and even non-African Caribbean food businesses to take part in our vibrant celebrations.

Register your event

Join the celebration and get involved!

If you would like to host a food-themed event during African Caribbean Food Month, complete our event registration form.

If your event is open to the public, register it by 5pm on Friday 22 August 2025 to be included in our printed programme. Events submitted after this date will be featured online.

Food businesses

Local food businesses can participate by:

• Hosting a Caribbean themed pop-up/supper club
• Running an in-person or virtual cooking workshop
• Creating exclusive deals or themed menus throughout October
• Spotlighting their signature dish
• Offering tasters to entice new customers

Register your food business event to be included in our programme.

Please tell us about the services your business offers so we can feature it in our online food business directory.

Community organisations and residents

Community organisations and residents can participate by:

• Hosting a community potluck/bring a dish meal event
• Hosting a local bake off
• Hosting a cook off - find out who makes the best fried chicken, roti or okra stew
• Hosting a food-themed open mic/slam poetry event
• Organising an intergenerational food storytelling event
• Hosting a food quiz night
• Hosting a junior cook off to encourage children and teenagers to showcase their culinary talents
• Highlighting local food businesses on social media

Register your community organisation or resident event now. If it is open to the public, it will be included in our printed programme. All other events will be featured online.

Schools

Schools can participate by:

• Incorporating African Caribbean food items to their harvest festival table
• Inviting local chefs to run a cooking workshop*
• Organising an African Caribbean food show and tell event
• Inviting young business owners to share their stories with aspiring entrepreneurs
• Running a food-themed creative art/poetry project
• Booking a tour of the Mission Kitchen food workspace in Nine Elms*

*Email weh@wandsworth.gov.uk for more information about these options.

Register your school event to include it in our online programme.

Non-African Caribbean food businesses

Non-African Caribbean food businesses can participate by:

• Hosting a pop-up restaurant or supper club if their venue closes in the afternoon or on certain days
• Collaborating with local chefs to run a themed night or create an African Caribbean menu
• Offering a local business or chef a residency
• Hosting a Caribbean/African kitchen takeover

Register your venue for workshops, pop-ups or supper clubs now.

Heritage Recipe Book

Do you have a cherished African or Caribbean recipe that brings back memories of home, family, or celebration?

We’re collecting recipes and stories for our borough-wide African Caribbean Heritage Recipe Book and we’d love yours to be included!

Submit your recipes

To submit your recipes, email heritage@gll.org or drop them off in one of our recipe boxes at local libraries or in the Marble Hall reception at the Town Hall.

Include the following:

• The full recipe, including ingredients and method
• A short story or memory behind the dish
• A photo of your family or the person who passed down the recipe, along with where your family originates from. Please note, you are giving permission for the image to be used in the published book and related promotional materials

Contact us

Contact us at weh@wandsworth.gov.uk if you’re interested in joining the celebrations or have ideas for events, workshops, or collaborations, or have a general enquiry.