Usain Bolt in front of Tracks and Record billboard  Pic: Tracks and Record

The fastest man alive is bringing a taste of Jamaica to London’s hipster hotspot.  

Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist, launched his new London-based restaurant Tracks & records in Shoreditch in October.  The site is the first out of 15 planned restaurants in the UK. 

The menu includes classic Jamaican dishes including jerk pork – which the restaurant’s website mentions is “one of Bolt’s faves!” – and saltfish, as well as other international dishes including lasagne and pizza.  

For dessert, customers can choose a Jamaican ice cream sundae with rum & raisin ice cream and coconut cookies with chocolate sauce.

Tracks and Records Restaurant Pic: Tracks and Record press office

 The unique space brings the Caribbean to East London, with a mix of Usain’s sports memorabilia and a soundtrack of dub and reggae records from DJs on the UK music circuit.  

There is also a rum bar, featuring a collection of over 150 rums from around the world, including 100 from Jamaica.

Tracks and Record bar Pic: Tracks and Record press office

 Tracks & Records started operations in Kingston, Jamaica in April 2011. It was the first restaurant of its type on the island.  

Last year, the Jamaica-based franchise Franjam, of which Bolt is a partner, announced it had signed a major contract with the UK based Casual Dining Restaurants Group (CDRG) to open 15 Tracks & Records branches over the next five years, making it the first Jamaican-owned restaurant franchise to open on an international scale.  

Franjam’s Managing Director Gary Matalon said: “This is a significant milestone in the company’s development.  When we created the Tracks & Records concept it was done with these major markets in mind.”  

“The UK has been a key target market for us since the conceptualisation stage over seven years ago, and there is no greater satisfaction than to see it unfold in this way.” 

Bolt said: “I’m happy to be able to share a taste of the Jamaica that I know and love with the rest of the world through the opening of these restaurants across the UK – London has always been a special place for me and I thank Aly and CDRG for giving us the opportunity to share our vision and our culture with you all.” 

“London is my second home and a place very close to my heart – so it’s brilliant to be sharing a taste of Jamaica in the capital.”