Liverpool Caribbean favourite Raggas is doing a three-week pop-up at the Everyman

One of Liverpool’s favourite cafes, Raggas Caribbean, is doing a three-week pop-up at the Everyman theatre to coincide with its latest play, Takeaway.

Raggas, on Smithdown Road, has become an institution in the city, serving authentic Caribbean dishes since 2006.

So there was no better choice to team up with the theatre and take over its street café for weekends during the play’s run.

Takeaway, which has been written by the Everyman’s creative director Nathan Powell, centres around a fictional family-owned Caribbean restaurant called Hyltons in Liverpool 8.

Owner Carol, played by former Hollyoaks actress Phina Oruche, is battling with upheaval in her family after the death of her husband and changes in her neighbourhood with gentrification threatening the community they love.

At the heart of it all is great food and loyal customers, which is what made Raggas a perfect fit for the collaboration.

Verdain Griffin, one of the original team which started the café almost 19 years ago, says they were happy to say yes when they were first approached about the idea.

Raggas Everyman Takeaway Liverpool - The Guide Liverpool — Verdain and his son, on the step of Raggas, Smithdown Road. Part of the WHAT’S YOUR FLAVOUR? exhibition in the Everyman bar by Julian Gill | dideyeshutter.com

He said:

“The Everyman reached out to us and also Phina is one of our regulars and she got in touch on the same day and asked if we’d be interested.

“It’s something we’ve just started focusing on more because we’ve seen a niche in the market, there aren’t many Caribbean places doing it.

“We’ve had some offers from further away but we’ve mostly stayed local up to now so we can prepare all the food at our base and transfer it. Festivals like Africa Oye and LIMF in Sefton Park are perfect for us.

“This is the first time in a theatre but it’s always nice to be able to work outside your comfort zone. You never know what response you’re going to get but all of our outside catering events so far have gone down really well and we’ve had purely positive response.”

Phina Oruche in Takeaway at the Everyman

Takeaway is on now, running until Saturday May 17, and Raggas will be bringing their menu to the Street Café each Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 5pm and 7pm.

It will feature a few of their bestselling favourites like jerk chicken, curried mutton and vegan curry, served with rice and peas, along with sides including their super-popular festivals, sweet fried dumplings.

They’ll also be delivering pre-show food to the cast to get everyone in the mood for the performance.

Verdain says Raggas is looking forward to sharing dishes with its existing big fanbase and new customers.

“We’ll have been here for 19 years in July and it is hard to keep going, there’ve been a lot of obstacles along the way, but we do seem to have a really loyal fanbase. We’re everyone’s best kept secret!”

Takeaway is on at the Everyman until Saturday May 17. Raggas will be taking over the Street Café on Thurs, Fri and Sat from May 1-17.