The Notting Hill Carnival is about to unleash a wealth of West Indian music, food and culture across the bank holiday weekend, but it’s not the only place to get a taste of the Caribbean in London.

The east gets its dose of the Carib spirit with Reggae Roast and Wray And Nephew’s Carnival Warm-Up Party on the opposite side of town at the London Fields Brewery in Hackney.

“It’s going to be a special day bringing the atmosphere of carnival and Jamaica to east London through a combination of music, art, food and of course authentic Jamaican cocktails,” says UK sound system and label Reggae Roast’s Moodie Ranking. 

Rootsy: Levi plays Wandsworth’s The Ship

Reggae Roast will lead a musical journey through Jamaica’s fave stylings, from rocksteady to roots and dancehall throughout the day, with cocktails, a Jamaican-style barbecue and coconut stalls adding to the tropical vibe. World famous street artist Jack Murray will also be on hand to bring a little bit of Kingston to town with a very special live project. 

“He’ll be creating a scene from downtown Kingston as a huge mural throughout the day, incorporating aspects of Jamaican culture such as sound systems, street food stalls and music. People will be able to watch the scene develop in front of their eyes as the day progresses,” Ranking explains.

The daytime events are just half of what the Reggae Roast crew have planned: “From 9pm the night session will kick off and things will really start to ramp up. We’ll be cranking up the decibels on the huge Noise Control Audio Sound System.”

All aboard: The Ship hosts a Caribbean-themed all-dayer

Headlining will be Shy FX, the world-renowned drum ‘n’ bass producer who is just about to release his first full-length reggae album. 

“It’s a tribute to the rise in popularity of reggae and Jamaican culture recently,” Ranking adds of Shy FX’s performance. “This will be his first reggae set so it’s really special and not to be missed.” 

The Caribbean vibes are not just curtailed to the bank holiday weekend, however, with famed Wandsworth pub The Ship planning to host a Caribbean-themed day next month. 

“People can expect a classic, chilled out Ship Sunday with a Caribbean twist,” says The Ship’s Jo Ellery of their plans for the day, which will see their new-look outdoor terrace taken over by an island theme and plenty of spicy jerk chicken. 

Reggae Roast: Ramon Judah, MC Ishu and Ranking

Along with the tastes of the Caribbean will be special guest Levi Roots, who’s known for overloading the senses with his food and beats. 

“Mr Reggae Reggae Sauce himself will be playing live acoustic music from his new album,” Ellery says. “His music, much like his cooking, is all about fun, relaxation and heart. He’ll be here all day so swing by and say hello – he might even give a cooking demo!”

And that’s just the start of it – Caribbean flavours can be found all across London if you look …    

More tastes of the Caribbean ››

Reggae Roast and Wray And Nephew’s Carnival Warm Up.
Aug 24. £8+  London Fields Brewery, E8 3RR  
Station | London Fields  

The Ship’s Caribbean Day.
Sep 1. Free  The Ship, SW18 1TB  
Station | Wandsworth Town