Uber Eats Crowns Its 2024 Restaurant Of The Year

Beloved Caribbean restaurant Natty’s Jerk has claimed the top spot in Uber Eats’ Restaurant of the Year awards, announced in a ceremony in London last night.

Natty’s Jerk Named Restaurant of the Year

Natty’s Jerk is a Jamaican eatery with outposts in Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, renowned for its jerk chicken, with both takeaway and sit-in options available. For the past three years, the restaurant has featured on Uber Eats’ list of finalists for the Restaurant of the Year award – and now, it has been taken home the top gong.

Launched in 2017 in Portsmouth, Natty’s Jerk is all about bringing Caribbean culture and food to the UK, often hosting events and pop-ups at festivals. Alongside jerk chicken, the menu also includes curries, burgers and sides like Natty’s seasoned fries, tacos and ‘mac and cheezus’.

 

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Natty Crutchfield, owner of Natty’s Jerk, said: ‘We are thrilled to have been named Uber Eats’ Restaurant of the Year. It’s hard to put into words how much this means to us – it still feels surreal. The entire process has been amazing, from being named the best local restaurant in Portsmouth to cooking for culinary icons like Andi Oliver in London during the final stage.’

The annual awards saw a pool of 130 restaurants from all over the country whittled down to just 12, with other finalists this year including gourmet burger joint Junglees in London, and Irish ice cream shop Mackles. The winner was then decided by a panel of chefs and foodies, including Andi Oliver, Kieran Monlouis and Josh Kleiner. 

Uber Eats’ award gives a brand a big boost, with winners receiving a £100,000 prize to invest into their business. The 2023 crown went to cult sandwich shop Sandwich Sandwich, who used the money to launch a new branch in London.

‘Seeing the incredible journey of Sandwich Sandwich over the past year shows us what’s possible, and we’re beyond excited to take the next steps with Uber Eats’ support,’ added Natty. ‘We can’t thank them enough for this life-changing opportunity.’

Matthew Price, regional general manager of Uber Eats in the UK, Ireland, and Northern Europe, said: ‘We were blown away by not only Natty’s incredible food but also their inspiring story and how they built their business. I speak on behalf of the judging panel and everyone at Uber Eats who are thrilled that they have been crowned our Restaurant of the Year for 2024. Local favourite restaurants are at the heart of everything we do at Uber Eats, and I am delighted that we can celebrate all the finalists today!’

Find out more at ubereatsawards.com