"Authentic Jamaican Flavours from Back A Yard"
“A Taste Straight from Backa Yard”
“Born in Jamaica. Made with Love.”
Who We Are
Our Vision
Our Vision
Our Vision
To bring the real taste of Jamaica back home, one plate at a time. At Back A Yard, we aim to share the island's warmth, soul, and flavour through authentic dishes made with love, spice, and tradition. Our vision is to the heart of Jamaican food culture in the community, where everyone feels the vibes, taste the roots, and leaves with a smile.
My Journey
Our Vision
Our Vision
My journey began in the early 1970's,living in the heart of Jamaica - a little place called Crooked River in Clarendon. I was raised by my grandmother, Miss Hilda, alongside our kind neighbours Mrs. Walker and Miss Nancy. These three women showed me what love, community, and true Jamaican cooking were all about.
Their kitchens were always
My journey began in the early 1970's,living in the heart of Jamaica - a little place called Crooked River in Clarendon. I was raised by my grandmother, Miss Hilda, alongside our kind neighbours Mrs. Walker and Miss Nancy. These three women showed me what love, community, and true Jamaican cooking were all about.
Their kitchens were always alive - pots bubbling, spices blending, laughter echoing through the yard. They ,cooked with heart, turning simple ingredients into meals that bought everyone together. it wasn't just food- it was love on a plate.
I'm Lester McKenzie, and Back A Yard is my way of carrying on their legacy. Every dish we serve is inspired by the lessons they taught me: cook with care, serve with pride, and make people feel at home.
From Crooked River to today, that same love and spirit lives on in every meal we make.
Our Family
Our Vision
Our Family
At Back A Yard, everything we do is rooted in love, family, and culture. I'm Lester Mckenzie, born in the UK but raised in Crooked River, Clarendon, Jamaica, where I learned that food made with love brings people together. None of this would of been possible without my wife, Indu Mckenzie, whose belief in me inspired the dream to bring B
At Back A Yard, everything we do is rooted in love, family, and culture. I'm Lester Mckenzie, born in the UK but raised in Crooked River, Clarendon, Jamaica, where I learned that food made with love brings people together. None of this would of been possible without my wife, Indu Mckenzie, whose belief in me inspired the dream to bring Back A Yard to Canterbury.
Indu is from India, and together we blend the bold, soulful flavours of Jamaican and Indian cooking- a mix that reflects our journey and our shared passion for good food. I've taught her how to marinate our famous jerk chicken, and she brings her own Indian warmth and spice into our kitchen.
Though I'm the chef behind every dish, Back A Yard is truly a family effort - a fusion of roots, love, and culture.
Together, we're proud to serve food that tells our story: the taste of Jamaica with a touch of India, made with heart right here in Canterbury.