The Cummin Up Caribbean Restaurant

The Cummin Up Caribbean restaurant in Catford will be celebrating its 10th year of throwing open its doors to local homeless and disadvantaged people this December.

Manager Richard Simpson and his family started the tradition after he was baptised.

“I wanted to help those who didn’t have anything at Christmastime,” he explains. “In 2008, the timing seemed right. The entire family have given up their Christmas Day each year since. It’s a way for us to show the love of Christ in a practical way.”

The restaurant provides traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, but also adds in a Caribbean twist with jerk chicken and rice and peas.

“People are invited to turn up from one p.m. and stay for the rest of the day. Locals get involved – some drop off bags of clothing and other items; others stay and talk to our guests. Some people will come and wash up for an hour to contribute.”

The meal is now very well attended.

“On average we serve about one hundred and twenty meals over the course of the day,” he says. “We’ve even served meals outside at tables put out on the pavement for visitors who didn’t want to leave their dogs outside on their own.”