A loan of £60,000 towards renovation costs, to help Jerk Grill open a restaurant in Hackney with a social mission.
About Jerk Grill
Jerk Grill is a jerk chicken restaurant which aims to provide employment to young people. It started as a food truck in Peckham, and opened its restaurant in a new site in Hackney in 2024.
As well as providing employment to young people, Jerk Grill aims to tackle food poverty and isolation through cooking classes and foodbank sessions.
You can read more about Jerk Grill’s story in this article in the Caterer.
What we funded
We provided Jerk Grill with a loan of £60,000 over 6 years, to refurbish its restaurant site ahead of opening to the public.
Impact
Opening a new permanent restaurant site has enabled Jerk Grill to create five new jobs for young people. It also provides it a ‘forever home’ to continue its social mission of reducing food poverty and social isolation, such as through cooking classes.
Karis Theophane, founder of Jerk Grill said:
"The investment helped us to open up a new restaurant in Hackney. The funds were used for the full renovation of an old derelict kebab shop to a Caribbean Restaurant/lounge.
"This included all building works, full electrical rewire, new plumbing installation, structural works a full refit, decor and furnishings. Without this investment we would not have been able to make a community dream come true."
