Caribbean Notting Hill: The Portobello Shack & Laslett Hotel

The Portobello Shack: Where Carnival Heritage Lives On

Walk down Portobello Road today and you might not realise you are passing the only Caribbean-owned restaurant on the entire street. But The Portobello Shack is not just any restaurant - it is a living connection to the very roots of Notting Hill Carnival itself.

The Shack is owned by Rosita Lynch, whose family story is woven into the fabric of Carnival history. Her father, who came from Trinidad, was a prolific pan player with the early steel bands. These steel bands were instrumental in shaping Caribbean culture in Notting Hill during the 1950s and 60s. But the connection goes even deeper. Rosita is the goddaughter of the great, late Russ Henderson, the man who quite literally gave Notting Hill Carnival its heartbeat.

Henderson was vitally involved in building up the Carnival. In 1965, what had been planned as a simple community event transformed into something much bigger. Henderson decided to liven things up by leading his steel band down the street. A growing crowd followed, and in that moment, the Notting Hill Carnival procession as we know it was born. Understanding these Notting Hill Carnival origins is essential to appreciating the event's cultural significance today. Henderson is honoured with a blue plaque, a testament to his incredible Carnival legacy.

The Portobello Shack is where our community talks take place during our heritage walking tours, and it could not be a more fitting location. This is where participants on our Notting Hill Caribbean heritage walk gather to hear from community elders, share stories and connect with living history over authentic Caribbean food and drink. The menu offers soft drinks, herbal teas, fruit punch and rum punch, alongside traditional Caribbean drinks like sorrel. Our groups have enjoyed the jerk chicken with rice and peas and salad, and the food is lovely. But it is the vibe and atmosphere that really make the experience special. There is something about being in a Caribbean-owned business on Portobello Road, knowing the deep roots it has in Notting Hill community history.

The Laslett Hotel's Henderson Bar: Heritage in Every Sip

Saturday 25th October, we visited the Laslett Hotel in Notting Hill to try their rum punch at the Henderson Bar & Kitchen. What a discovery it was!

The connections here run deep. The Laslett Hotel is named after Rhaune Laslett, the community activist who organised the very first Notting Hill Carnival back in 1966. And the Henderson Bar & Kitchen? Named after that same Russ Henderson whose legacy lives on at The Portobello Shack. It is wonderful to see local heritage honoured in this way, right in the heart of Notting Hill. These venues demonstrate how Caribbean heritage tours in London can connect past and present.

The Henderson Bar & Kitchen has a lovely ambience - the kind of place where you instantly feel welcome. Our barman provided fantastic service, knowledgeable and friendly without being over the top. When the rum punch arrived, we knew we were in for something special.

It absolutely delivered. This was not your average rum punch - there was real depth of flavour here. Sweet, yes, but balanced beautifully with fruity notes and the unmistakable warmth of quality rums. You could taste the care that went into crafting it, each sip revealing different layers. It is the kind of drink that makes you slow down and savour it properly.

Where History, Community and Culture Meet

The Portobello Shack and The Laslett Hotel remind us that Carnival heritage is not just about one day in August - it is about the families, the businesses and the communities who have kept that spirit alive year-round, generation after generation. Whether you are enjoying jerk chicken on Portobello Road or sipping rum punch at the Henderson Bar, you are experiencing living history. Our Black history walks in London bring these stories to life through authentic community voices.

Book Your Notting Hill Caribbean Heritage Walk Today

Join us on a heritage walk to discover these spaces and hear the stories that connect them. Our Essential Walks and Premium Experiences bring you face-to-face with Notting Hill's Caribbean heritage through the voices of community elders who built it. On both our Essential Walks and Premium Experiences, you have the option to enjoy a meal at The Portobello Shack, making your heritage walk a complete cultural experience.

Experience authentic Caribbean culture in Notting Hill, learn about the true Notting Hill Carnival origins and connect with living history on our heritage walking tours in London.

Book your place on our Notting Hill Caribbean heritage walk today and experience history that is still very much alive.