Popular Caribbean restaurant forced to demolish 'negative' Jamaican canopy by council
Neville Stewart, owner of Juss Jerk was told by Islington council that the "design" of his canopy had a "negative impact on the street scene."
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The Source Exclusive: Popular Caribbean restaurant forced to demolish ‘negative’ Jamaican canopy by council
Neville Stewart, owner of Juss Jerk in Islington, London, says he is “baffled” that the council isn’t willing to meet small businesses halfway in a climate where many are struggling.
STORY BY ARIKE IDRIS
OCTOBER 6, 2025. UPDATED AT 16.05
‘One of the best’ Caribbean restaurants in London has been forced to remove its Jamaican-styled canopy after the council said its “design” and “appearance” gave a “negative impact on the street scene.”
Juss Jerk owner Neville Stewart says he was left “saddened” after being ordered to demolish the wooden structure by Islington council which was voluntarily built by a kind customer to help during the Covid pandemic when ventilated seating was crucial to business survival.
The restaurant which is located next to Emirates Stadium has been highly recommended by football pundit Ian Wright to his millions of social media followers and is frequented by dozens of locals and football fans.
But despite a gruelling battle to prevent the cover from being taken down, including a petition being launched and statements from former footballers – Islington council’s order to remove it was upheld.
Since losing the section of his business which became a social hub for the community, Neville claims the decision was “targeted.
He added that as a result of losing the area, his sales will be down during winter and ultimately, the council has failed to “compromise” when local businesses are struggling.
Neville said: “I felt it was biased and targeted.
“Especially as the local council that is supposedly in favour of small businesses and seeing them thrive - not providing an alternative or being willing to offer some form of solution and help to a local business in this climate where everyone is struggling is beyond me and baffling.
“I know we’re no longer going through COVID, but the knock-on effects are still there and where everyone’s struggling, [the council should] provide support to local businesses.”
Neville says customers including those who had travelled from the Caribbean enjoyed seeing the design of his canopy.
He said: “You’ve got people who travelled from the Caribbean or someone from Jamaica who sees it and can relate to the look and the feel and the vibe and the atmosphere and everything that it brings.
“It was a place where tourists, fans and locals take a picture because it reminded them of something.”
Neville claims the council agreed for the canopy to be built in 2021, telling him they were not doing visual inspection at the time.
However, the owner says he didn’t follow it up with an email as he was busy keeping the business afloat while recovering from the severe financial fallout of COVID-19.
In 2023, Neville says he was informed a complaint had been made to the council about the canopy following a revamp which included windows and a door being added, triggering an inspection at the site.
In March 2024, he then received a letter from the council stating more complaints had been made and the canopy had to be taken down.
In emails from Islington Council seen by The Source, a planning enforcement officer stated the ‘design and appearance of the structure along with the bold advertising provided a negative impact on the street scene.’
The council also cited potential issues arising regarding resident traffic on the highway.
In an enforcement letter sent to Neville by the council in September 2024 which was also seen by The Source, under the reasons for issuing the notice it stated that “the ground floor canopy extension with associated means of enclosure by reason of its design, prominent sitting and materials, is an incongruous addition that is visually harmful to the subject site and wider street scene and results in loss of a secure storage area.”
Separately, Islington council informed the business owner that even if he was to apply for planning permission, “it would have been unlikely to receive planning consent.”
Neville says he struggled to process the decision.
He said: “It was very disheartening.
“It probably would have been easier to take if someone had fallen outside the shop because something was protruding from the building or, it overran onto the pavement and it made it difficult.
“There was none of that. I think some of them complaints regarding the outside space are people realising the rapid ascension of Juss Jerk.”
Despite an appeal against the council’s decision, the Planning Inspectorate rejected it in July 2025 and upheld the enforcement to take down the canopy.
Last week, with the help of his family, Neville demolished the structure which he described as “pulling a band aid off a wound.”
He added that the removal of the canopy was also heart-wrenching for the customer who built it.
Neville said: “There are days when you’re tired, your feet hurt from a day of service and prepping for the next match and it’s a repeated cycle.
“But when it makes it a lot easier to because it’s about people leaving with a memorable experience.
“That’s one of the reasons why it’s such a shame that the space is gone. But they can take the space, but they can’t take the flavours.
“We’re not here just for a short time, but we’re here to become part of the Arsenal legacy.”
A spokesperson for the London Borough of Islington said: “ An enforcement notice was issued for the unauthorised structure, and this was upheld following an appeal by the owner to the national Planning Inspectorate.
“As this remains a live planning enforcement matter, the council is unable to comment further.”
A Planning Inspectorate spokesperson said: “Inspectors are independent and impartial.
“When making a decision the Inspector fully considers the evidence submitted at the appeal and takes account of current planning legislation, policy and guidance.”
*This story has been updated to include details of the enforcement letter from Islington council sent to Neville in September 2024.