Portobello Road is one of London’s most iconic streets, best known for its pastel-coloured houses, antique markets, tourist-favourite film locations, and as the home of Europe’s largest celebration of Caribbean culture: the Notting Hill Carnival.

Lesser known is its long history of cultural resilience, shaped by communities who fought to preserve its identity amid rapid social change.

Our People of Portobello series delves deeper into the faces and names behind our neighbourhood. As a pioneer in celebrating local heritage - and owner of Portobello Shack - Rosita Lynch continues to champion the stories of Notting Hill, curating Portobello Shack not only as a place to enjoy Caribbean cuisine, but as a community hub deep-rooted in history, cultural pride, and creativity. 

Learn about Rosita’s story and her ongoing commitment to preserving the neighbourhood’s history: 

My mum, Jocelyn, is English, but grew up in Ghana, West Africa, where she began a career as an artist. She became a psychotherapist and has now written three books on spirituality and equality.

My dad, Irvin, is from Trinidad and was a master steelpan musician with strong African roots. He owned a record shop in the 80s and was also known for his famous Rotis, which he sold when living on All Saints Road.

He moved to West London in the 1960s, where he met long-term friend Russ Henderson, the co-founder of the Notting Hill Carnival, who would later become my godfather.

My grandparents remained deeply connected to Trinidad. My grandfather, James Lynch, dedicated much of his life to challenging racial and political injustices there. We’re writing a book about his remarkable life and work as a trade union leader. It took him as far afield as Russia and to Cuba, where he spent significant time with ally and comrade Fidel Castro.

My grandmother, Veronica, was an exceptional cook and the main inspiration behind my passion for cooking – she’s the reason I have the culinary skills I do today, along with her spiritual grounding. I’m very blessed and feel incredibly fortunate for the time spent in Trinidad with my grandmother and father. 

Dad was highly respected in the London Caribbean music scene and performed internationally, sharing his unique gift; he even performed with the Rolling Stones and for Muhammad Ali.

I would often gig with my dad, me on the bass, and him on his beloved tenor pan. We even played together in Trinidad Carnival with his childhood band, Southern Marines, which is a cherished memory. 

During my teens and twenties, I followed my own gift and talents in singing and songwriting, first in a girl band, then later solo, working with artists such as Loose Ends and Snoop Dog while living in Los Angeles. 

Back in the Grove, I noticed that many local Caribbean histories were being plagiarised without due recognition, respect or recompense. I felt deeply exposed to the injustices and inequalities that shaped the neighbourhood. 

Notting Hill has some of the richest residents in London, living alongside some of Europe’s poorest communities. While there are positive aspects to such a diverse and multicultural community, we cannot ignore the stark disparity and acute inequality. The Grenfell Tower tragedy is an extreme but very real consequence of this reality. 

Before Portobello Shack, I ran Ladbroke Grove Originals, a collective dedicated to honouring our local elders. LGO served as a platform to remember, respect, and support the often-forgotten pioneers and curators of the vibrant community that flourishes today, celebrating our culture and those who shaped it. It was one of the few remaining community-focused collectives left in the area at the time. 

My passion for justice and community led me to collaborate with filmmaker Wyn Baptise, co-producing the BBC’s Who Started It documentary about the controversial origins of the Notting Hill Carnival. 

My friend, Chedder, approached me one day during a Ladbroke Grove Originals event and said, “272 is up for tender, shall we apply for it?” Chedder, of legendary Cheddar Promotions, was also a young activist fighting racism on the front line of change. He led the Metro Club Youth Uprising, which gained international coverage.  

We opened Portobello Shack not just as a place to enjoy Caribbean food, but also as a community hub. It’s always been more than just food. The area sits on a ley line – a place with strong spiritual energy. I’ve always felt that I was put there for a reason to help balance that energy and channel something positive into a community where imbalance is still often felt. 

We officially opened Portobello Shack in 2019 with an incredible launch party featuring performances from Loose Ends, Big Narstie, Young Disciples, One Love and Metronomes Steel Orchestra. It was a fantastic start to our journey, with over 2000 attendees.  

Caribbean hospitality is all about warmth, openness, and community. It’s a place to share food and to share life’s journey. As one of the only Black Caribbean–owned restaurants in the area, Portobello Shack carries a responsibility to maintain authenticity and champion the culture that shaped the neighbourhood. 

I’m fortunate to have an amazing team behind me, many of whom are also deeply rooted in the area, and our success has been magical. All our chefs have Caribbean roots, and one of my team members, Jamila, is the daughter of Mangrove Nine Rodan Gordon. The M9 case was a landmark victory for Black British civil rights; she shares these histories with visitors and on our monthly walks. 

Back in 2018, I worked on Steve McQueen's Small Axe as an associate researcher, which details the M9 legacy. 

Portobello Shack is dedicated to bringing the community together in as many ways as possible. We source fresh produce from local market traders and host a wide range of events, from our popular Sunday DJ night and female-led open mic poetry evenings to history talks, walks, and community gatherings. 

Our monthly Black History Walks, in conjunction with Notting Hill Walks, invite participants to explore local sites of significance, including the Russ Henderson plaque on Tavistock Square. We finish the walk with a meal at Portobello Shack and talks from local community members and Pioneers, including Leslie Palmer and Askala McMorris. 

We celebrate creativity and expression, and our space is often used for album launches, live music, debate forums, and art galleries. Recently, I co-organised Jamaica Happening on Portobello Green in solidarity with the African Uprising, which honoured elders and political leaders, featured local stalls and children’s activities, and celebrated community voices.

Russ was my father’s best friend and later my godfather. Our families were close growing up. He was a well-known jazz pianist, and childhood memories of old skol jam sessions at his Kensal Rise home with my dad in the 80s are dear to me. As a singer, I often practised and learned the jazz standards with him. He often used to joke that he wished I were his daughter.

My passion for honouring elders and pioneers comes from Russ, my dad, who passed away in 2020, and from many of the elders who paved the way. They were the originals, and keeping their legacy alive is important to me. I want Portobello Shack to be that place that celebrates culture, art, and history, reflected in both the space and the events we host.

Our signature dish is most definitely our Jerk Chicken. Our jerk pan is fired up every day just outside Portobello Shack. It’s a main attraction; the smell draws people in!

Our signature portobello rum punch is extremely popular. It’s made with Wray Nephew rum, but the recipe is top secret… if I told you, I’d have to kill you.

Carnival is born from freedom, resilience, creativity and celebration; it holds significant political importance. I am a carnival baby; I was in my mother’s womb in Trinidad, jumping up in San Fernando for Jouvet. My dad was a carnival pioneer who carried the culture around the world. 

Along with Clive Phillips, I have been leading Carnival Reset, a collective that aims to bring justice, balance, safety, reinvestment, and cultural reclamation to the Caribbean and the Carnival community. 

I like to browse Portobello market for vintage clothes, with Debonair and Frank Akinsete as my favourites. Eating out, Mike’s Café, just off Portobello, does an excellent Breakfast. Uli in Notting Hill is one of my favourite places when I’m in the mood for Asian food.

Further afield, I love to wander the galleries at the Tate with my mum, as I feel a special connection there. I contributed my dad’s and Russ’s vintage steel pans to designer Grace Wales Bonner for her Life Between Islands retrospective, which was themed around procession, reclamation, and the movement of people.  

I often visit the Henderson Bar & Kitchen at The Laslett with my sister, a space that pays tribute to Russ Henderson. I was recently there with Russ’s son, Pablo Henderson, who proudly recalled how a bartender recounted the story behind the bar’s name, not realising he was speaking to Russ Henderson’s son himself.  

My dad used to play the steelpan for The Laslett’s annual Christmas Carnival. Last year, Portobello Shack catered the party, which felt like a meaningful, full-circle moment. 

The Laslett, part of the Living Rooms London portfolio, was designed to honour the history of Notting Hill and champion local creativity through its art and design. Its very name pays tribute to Rhaune Laslett, a community activist and central figure who helped shape the early Notting Hill Carnival.

In spotlighting Rosita and Portobello Shack, we highlight the people who continue to shape the community as we know it today. Through spaces like Portobello Shack and with Rosita’s ongoing work for the community, the legacy of Caribbean heritage, community resilience, and cultural pride lives on.