Meet the Southsea family bringing a taste of the Caribbean to Portsmouth

Nat Crutchfield, from Southsea, has launched a mobile catering business with his wife Samantha, specialising in delicacies from the Caribbean Islands.

Currently based at Outside-In Food Court in Portsmouth, Natty’s Jerk offers meals such as traditional jerk chicken, rice and peas, curried goat and patties.

The business was launched in 2019 after Nat and his wife were at Victorious Festival and fancied some jerk chicken, but were unable to find a vendor that sold it.

The business made its debut at a food market on Commercial Road.

Nat said: ‘I was told not to expect a lot and that I would maybe sell 30 meals, but I didn’t listen and took 140 portions and we sold out by 3pm.’

Nat and Sam are joined by their daughter CC, their son Ty and Nat’s sister Genevieve and they run market stalls, as well as taking corporate bookings.

Nat, who is originally from London and moved to Southsea three years ago, was working as a black cab driver in London alongside running the business, but sold his taxi earlier this year to focus on the food.

The food is inspired by Nat and Sam’s family’s cooking, which they grew up around.

He said: ‘I spent my holidays in Jamaica and watched my grandmother cook every day. My mission in life is to give everyone along the south coast a taste of what we grew up with. The best times in my life, food played a part.

They want to make Caribbean food more accessible so more people try it and are creating fusions such as curried goat-topped fries to try to do this.

Natty added: ‘We want people to sit in on a Friday night and say “shall we get a Caribbean?” just like with Indian or Chinese.’

The chicken is prepared in a traditional Jamaican way over a charcoal grill, after being marinated in jerk seasoning for several hours.

They also offer vegan and vegetarian options.