African and Caribbean Food in Nottingham: Where to Eat and Shop

For Nottingham's African and Caribbean communities, food is home, heritage and belonging. It is the Caribbean shops of Hyson Green and Radford, the smell of jerk and Nigerian stews, the ingredient from home found on a local shelf, the carnival and the caterer who does the family celebration. Nottingham has been a home to these communities for generations, and its food scene carries that history and love, a real taste of the Caribbean and Africa in the East Midlands.

Whether you have lived in Nottingham all your life or are new to the city, exploring its African and Caribbean food is a way to connect with community and heritage. From a plate of curry goat to a bowl of egusi soup, from a Caribbean patty to a wrap of suya, the flavours of home are there to be found and shared. That warm, welcoming spirit is what African and Caribbean food in Nottingham is all about.

Nottinghams African and Caribbean Food Scene

Nottingham has a proud tradition of African and Caribbean food, rooted in a community that goes back to the Windrush generation who settled in the city, and enriched over the years by West African, particularly Nigerian and Ghanaian, communities. That heritage gives Nottingham a warm and varied food scene, where you can find Jamaican and Caribbean classics like jerk chicken and curry goat alongside Nigerian jollof rice, egusi soup and other African dishes, cooked with real knowledge and love.

For anyone in Nottingham, the city is a lovely place to explore African and Caribbean food, whether you are seeking a taste of home or keen to discover the cuisines. From grocery shops stocking hard-to-find ingredients to takeaways, restaurants and caterers, Nottingham has what you need. If you are new to the food, our guides to Caribbean food and Nigerian food are a good place to start.

Hyson Green Radford and the Community

Nottingham's African and Caribbean community has deep roots in several areas of the city, particularly Hyson Green, Radford and St Ann's, which have long been centres of Caribbean and, increasingly, African life. In and around these areas you will find African and Caribbean shops, takeaways and community spaces, giving them a strong character and a real sense of community. They are the classic places to look for Caribbean ingredients, bakery goods and home cooking, as well as West African shops and food.

Beyond these areas, African and Caribbean businesses are found across Nottingham, from the city centre to other neighbourhoods with African and Caribbean populations, so wherever you are in the city there is likely to be good food not far away. The community is celebrated each year at the Nottingham Carnival, a joyful event rooted in Caribbean culture, with food a central and much loved part of the celebration.

Where to Eat African and Caribbean Food

Nottingham offers good choice for eating out. For Caribbean food, restaurants and takeaways across the city serve Jamaican and Caribbean classics like jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail, rice and peas, ackee and saltfish and patties. For West African food, Nigerian and Ghanaian restaurants and takeaways serve dishes such as jollof rice, egusi soup, pounded yam and suya, and other African cuisines feature too.

There are also caterers who cook African and Caribbean food for parties, weddings and events, ideal for an owambe, a christening or any celebration. Because specific restaurants come and go, the best way to find current, well-reviewed places near you is through the Africanstores listings: browse African restaurants near you and African caterers near you to see what is close to you in Nottingham.

Where to Buy Ingredients and Groceries

Nottingham makes it possible to buy African and Caribbean ingredients close to home. The city has African and Caribbean grocery stores, particularly around Hyson Green and Radford, stocking yam, plantain, scotch bonnet, egusi, garri, palm oil, saltfish, ackee, hard dough bread, patties, spices and more. These shops are where the community buys the ingredients to cook at home, and they are a great resource for anyone wanting to cook African or Caribbean food.

To find grocery stores near you, the Africanstores listings for African food stores in Nottingham show you which shops stock what, so you can find the closest place for whatever you need, from fresh plantain to a specific soup ingredient. You can also read our guide to African supermarkets in the UK for tips on what to look for when you shop.

Festivals and Community

Nottingham's African and Caribbean communities are lively and celebrated, with food central to community life and festivities. The Nottingham Carnival, rooted in Caribbean culture and the Windrush heritage, is a joyful highlight of the year, and throughout the year Caribbean and West African events, parties and gatherings bring people together around food. The city's shops and caterers supply the ingredients and dishes for it all, and this community life is a big part of what makes Nottingham such a warm place for African and Caribbean food.

For anyone in Nottingham, this adds up to a city where a real taste of home, or a delicious discovery, is close at hand. Whether you want to eat out, order in for a celebration, or cook a feast at home, Nottingham has the restaurants, takeaways, caterers and shops, and the Africanstores listings are the easiest way to find them near you.