Levi Roots 'heart bleeding' after deciding to shut Battersea cafe (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Levi Roots 'heart bleeding' after deciding to shut Battersea cafe Papine Jerk Centre

3:00pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News By Alexandra Rucki

Reggae Reggae Sauce mastermind Levi Roots is closing his first restaurant leaving a school it serves searching for a new hot meal provider.

Papine Jerk Centre, located in the York Road Estate, Lavender Road, Battersea, has been serving Jamaican cuisine for six years

It has provided meals to Thames Christian College, in Wye Street, as well as acting as a community hub.

Mr Roots, of Brixton, opened the restaurant in 2007 after finding investment for his brand on TV show Dragon's Den.

The entrepreneur is yet to set a date for it's closure, but hopes to expand the business into a high street restaurant franchise.

Mr Roots said: "I have always talked about expansion here, as we started it is not where we wanted to end up.

"It has been part of my life over the past six years.

"My heart is bleeding I have got to uproot."

He said the highlight of being in Battersea was working with the school and speaking to children at assembly.

A spokeswoman for Thames Christian College said they are in negotiations with another company to provide hot meals at the school.

Mr Roots first began selling his sauce at Notting Hill Carnival, with soft drinks, cook books and chilled meals also on offer.