A new restaurant named in memory of one of Grimsby’s most popular adopted sons is to open this week.
Joe’s Hut, serving authentic Jamaican food, is a new business from Emma Boswell and Kelly Thirumaran, football mums who turned a pitchside friendship into a culinary launch with a shared passion for Caribbean cuisine.
Emma is the granddaughter of Britain’s first black boxing promoter Joe Frater, who passed away five years ago, aged 76.
She said: "My grandma, [Lynnette] used to cook amazing Jamaican food and her recipes were always a big family secret. So, I love to recreate those dishes but with my own flavours and recipes. My family heritage prompted the name for the business, as Joe Hut is where my grandfather was born in Jamaica.”
Starting in a home kitchen one weekend, it has got to opening in Hainton Avenue in just 16 months.
“Cooking is a passion we both share and when I started feeling unhappy in my job and Kelly was made redundant, we decided to take the plunge. We put a small amount of money together and decided to try cooking one weekend at my home. We completely sold out on the first night and it all started from there.”
Favourites on the so-far take-away menu have been jerk chicken wings, curried goat, brown stew chicken and oxtail.
Emma said “All of our food is fresh and cooked by ourselves. We source the goat from Turners Butchers in Grimsby, and we are actively looking to source our vegetables from other local businesses.
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They said lockdown was a worry but the business grew, with a decision made to go for a fixed location rather than a larger commercial kitchen as had been the initial plan.
Since early February deliveries have been served up from the venue, which boasts outdoor seating front and back.
“We are overwhelmed with all the great feedback from customers since we first opened the doors. We also received a five star hygiene rating recently, which we are incredibly proud of because we have worked so hard to make sure everything is perfect,” Emma said.
Throughout the journey, Joe’s Hut have been working closely with E-Factor food sector business advisor, Rachel Appleton.
Kelly originally attended the Be Your Own Boss workshop, and from there worked with Rachel to organise day-to-day running of the business, product costings, cashflow, budgeting and setting plans for future growth.
Rachel said: “Emma and Kelly were incredibly enthusiastic throughout the whole process of setting up their business. They were open to suggestions, but also had a strong sense of the brand and what they wanted to achieve. It has been a pleasure to see their dreams come to life.”
The pair are now looking for delivery drivers and have hopes for a second restaurant.