Peckham’s The Flygerians handed £5000 by Uber Eats as Black-owned restaurants get support

Sisters Jess and Jo Edun, founders of The Flygerians

(Picture: The Flygerians)

Two sisters who opened their south London restaurant following their grandmother’s passing in 2011 have been awarded £5000 from Uber Eats to support their business.

Jess and Jo Edun own Peckham restaurant The Flygerians, which is one of eight Black-owned businesses in London to win a grant from the Uber Eats Black Business Fund.

The £50,000 fund was established in collaboration with Be Inclusive Hospitality and Enterprise Nation in December to support Black-owned businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Uber launched a similar financial support scheme in the US following the death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests, but this is the first time they have launched a fund in the UK.

Only five percent of small or medium sized businesses are run by people from Black or other ethnic minority backgrounds in Britain.

The Edun sisters, who have been cooking since childhood, opened their restaurant in tribute to their grandmother’s cooking.

Khamisi Mckenzie cooking at Drums and Flats, one of the restaurants that won a grant (Drums and Flats)

They said: “Our Grandma used to host BBQs known as ‘Mamas cookouts’ that would bring together neighbours, family, friends and any random stranger that was strolling by.

“Covid has had a massive hit on the whole hospitality sector… but the future is looking better.”

The other Black-owned London restaurants to win grants from the fund are Bando Belly, Drums and Flats, Issa Vibe, Jam Delish, The Breakhouse Cafe and TribeV.

Uber Eats general manager Matthew Price said: “Given the significant economic impact of the pandemic, we are incredibly proud to support small Black-owned businesses.”

A report published by Uber in December claimed 40% of restaurants on Uber Eats would be forced to close as a result of the pandemic.

The Black Business Fund received over 150 applications. Winners were selected by judges from Enterprise Nation, Be Inclusive hospitality, and Black Eats London.

Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones CBE said: “Through this initiative, I have heard from so many entrepreneurs that refused to allow the events of the last two years to derail their dreams. Keep doing what you do, your passion is what makes the UK such a special place for small businesses.”