The Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton has been ranked London’s number one on TripAdvisor.
One of four restaurants operated by prisoner rehabilitation initiative The Clink Charity, The Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton beat 18,113 other restaurants listed in London
Since opening in February 2014, 97% of all reviews are ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’.
The three other restaurants, The Clink Restaurant at HMP High Down, Surrey, HMP Cardiff and HMP Styal, Cheshire, are also number one in their respective areas
The restaurants each provide up to 30 prisoners full-time work in a professional restaurant and kitchen environment.
Trainees also study towards gaining nationally recognised City & Guilds NVQs in food preparation and food service before returning to their cells at the end of their working day.
The restaurants are meant to realistic working environment tfor prisoners in training, as they prepare for employment upon their release as part of their reintegration back into society.
The menus are designed around the seasons, offering classic European dishes with a modern British twist, with ingredients used are sourced from The Clink Gardens at HMP Send in Surrey where women prisoners are training towards NVQs in horticulture.
Chris Moore, chief executive of The Clink Charity says, “One of the biggest challenges we face as a charity is public misconceptions of prisoners and rehabilitation. Having this feedback from our diners provides evidence that we’re combating these views and are helping people to understand how important a part education and meaningful work plays in reducing reoffending rates.
“To receive such positive comments from our diners across all four restaurants encourages the prisoners in training to continue their hard work and commitment to changing their lives for the better. The award-winning Clink model is focused on rehabilitating prisoners in preparation for their release into the community, where they can put what they have learnt into action.”
