'More than a meal': The mission behind Brixton's Big Caribbean Lunch
Ros Griffiths explains why honouring Windrush elders and preserving community memory remain at the heart of the annual event
Just days after Windrush Day celebrations were held across the country, Brixton is preparing to host the fourth annual Big Caribbean Lunch, which founder Ros Griffiths says remains as important as ever.
Created to celebrate Caribbean culture, strengthen community ties and honour the Windrush Generation, the gathering has become a fixture in Brixton’s cultural calendar, bringing together elders, families, community organisations and younger generations for a day of food, conversation and celebration.
“The Big Caribbean Lunch was created to celebrate Caribbean culture, strengthen community connections and honour the legacy of the Windrush Generation,” Ros told Black Current News.
“While the event has grown significantly over the past four years, the most important part of the day remains the same, bringing our Windrush elders together for a complimentary Caribbean meal as a gesture of gratitude, recognition and respect.
“They are the foundation upon which so much of our community has been built and it is a privilege to celebrate them.
“This year, we also pause to remember those who joined us in previous years and are no longer with us. Their lives and their legacy remain part of who we are.”
This year’s event will take place across Windrush Square and St Matthew’s Church Gardens, with a programme of live music, cultural performances, guest speakers, arts activities, community stalls, plus more.
Among those expected to attend are the Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Paul Valentine, Helen Hayes MP, Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp and Windrush Commissioner Reverend Clive Foster, alongside a range of performers, community organisations and cultural contributors.
At the heart of the day remains the complimentary Caribbean lunch provided to Windrush elders aged 75 and over, recognising a generation whose resilience, sacrifice and determination helped shape modern Britain.
A special remembrance segment will also honour Windrush elders and community members who attended previous Big Caribbean Lunch celebrations but have since passed away, giving attendees an opportunity to reflect on their lives and lasting contribution to the community.
Born in Lambeth and raised in Brixton, Ros has spent much of her life championing the community that helped shape her.
“Brixton is where my values were shaped and where my commitment to community began,” she said.
Growing up, Brixton Market sat at the centre of everyday life. Caribbean food shops, record shops, churches, youth clubs and Saturday schools helped create a strong sense of identity and belonging for generations of Black Britons.
Those experiences continue to influence her work today.
Now chair of Friends of Windrush Square, Ros has become one of Brixton’s most prominent advocates for preserving Windrush history and ensuring Caribbean stories remain visible within public life.
For her, the Big Caribbean Lunch is not simply about celebrating the past. It is about creating opportunities for different generations to connect in the present.
A key aim of the event is to encourage younger people to engage with the stories, experiences and legacy of the Windrush Generation.
At a time when many communities are grappling with social isolation and fragmentation, Ros believes those connections matter more than ever.
Many of the elders attending this year’s event carry extraordinary lived experience, from migration and community-building to the struggles and triumphs that helped shape modern Britain.
By bringing younger and older generations together around the same table, Ros hopes those experiences can be shared, understood and carried forward.
Safeguarding the legacy of the Windrush Generation is both a responsibility and a necessity, Ros explained.
She believes their experiences are not simply part of Caribbean history, but fundamental to understanding modern Britain.
“These stories must be passed on,” she said. “Without them, we lose identity, context and understanding of how this community was built.”
The message feels particularly resonant as Brixton continues to evolve. While much has changed since Ros’s childhood, she believes the area’s character, creativity and sense of belonging remain worth protecting.
Her comments come amid ongoing debate about the future of Brixton Village and Market Row, where traders have voiced concerns over potential private equity ownership, rising rents and the future of independent businesses that have long helped define the area.
For Ros, the challenge is ensuring that Brixton’s cultural identity is sustained rather than displaced.
Despite those concerns, she remains optimistic about the future, describing Brixton as a place that continues to nurture artists, activists and community leaders, drawing strength from its diversity, resilience and rich heritage.
And that, ultimately, is what the Big Caribbean Lunch seeks to celebrate: not simply the past, but the connections that carry communities forward.
“We want to ensure that the stories, sacrifices and achievements of those who came before continue to inspire the generations that follow,” Ros added.
The Big Caribbean Lunch takes place in Brixton on 28 June 2026 from 12 pm to 7 pm.
Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.
