The Lone Fisherman
Jamaican restaurant · Tooting ·
Jamaican cuisine: fried fish, oysters, patties, jerk chicken
Jamaican cuisine: fried fish, oysters, patties, jerk chicken
"Christopher Smith’s market stall serves a homestyle Jamaican cuisine of fried fish escovitch; oysters fanged with either Scotch bonnet and lime, or garlic and pepper sauces; patties; and city dishes like salt beef on coco bread with Jamaican hot sauce. He’s also developed a new line in crepes in recent months, and is partial to delivering weekend specials of dumplings, jerk chicken, or smoked mackerel fritters." - Russell Burke
"A Caribbean food stall operating in Tooting Market that received an eviction notice and fell outside available pandemic protections, exemplifying how market managers and landlords have sought to alter the tenant mix in markets and food spaces, leaving small-scale vendors vulnerable to displacement despite wider moratoriums tied to COVID-related revenue loss." - Ellie Krupnick
"After being threatened with eviction following police raids and search warrants, the stall’s eviction notice was rescinded and a new lease offered after constructive dialogue mediated by Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin‑Khan; management apologised for acting hastily and chef-owner Christopher Smith will continue to trade. The threat provoked extensive local protests and social‑media backlash and prompted allegations of racial profiling by Smith and fellow targeted stallholder Hughie Crawford. The owner says he wants to move on and focus on the homestyle Jamaican food that made the stall popular—particularly fried fish escovitch; oysters served with either Scotch bonnet and lime or garlic-and-pepper sauces; patties; and city dishes like salt beef on coco bread with Jamaican hot sauce—while calling for community healing." - James Hansen
"A long-standing stall run by chef-owner Christopher Smith serving homestyle Jamaican dishes — notably fried fish escovitch, oysters with Scotch bonnet and lime, garlic-and-pepper sauces, patties, and city-style salt beef on coco bread with Jamaican hot sauce. The business says it was the subject of a Misuse of Drugs Act search warrant issued on 5 September and, despite no public evidence that drugs were found or that any crime had been committed, management handed the stall a three-day eviction letter; the owner has stated he was told to vacate even though he has been ‘found innocent’. The stall has paid rent through the pandemic and had operated in SW17 for nine years, has opened a GoFundMe to relocate, and has attracted community support — including a petition with thousands of signatures and protests — amid allegations that the rapid eviction amounted to racial profiling." - James Hansen
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