Adejoké (Joké) Bakare
Joké’s desire to work in food harked back to her university years as a student in Nigeria, where she studied biological sciences and ran a fish & chip cart in her spare time.
Having moved to the UK with her family 20 years ago, she worked in a number of fields including care, health & safety and property management, before starting in food with a van outside her church in southeast London. She ran a supper club or two, and then won a competition to win a three-month restaurant popup in Brixton Village, south London.
Joké opened Chishuru in Brixton in September 2020 as a three month popup, after winning a Brixton Village competition
When Jay Rayner from the Observer came in and gave the restaurant a rave review, the popup became permanent. The Brixton site closed in October 2022 and Joké then operated popups at Quality Wines, Carousel, 180 The Strand and the Globe Tavern in Borough Market, before moving Chishuru to its permanent new home in Fitzrovia in September 2023.
In February 2024, Michelin awarded Chishuru a Michelin star, making Joké the first black female Michelin-starred chef in the UK. Joké was named ‘Chef of the Year’ at the National Restaurant Awards 2024.
Matt Paice
Matt worked in television as a channel controller and executive producer before becoming a chef by accident.
He ran a street food business which he later turned into two casual dining restaurants in west London. After these closed, he worked as operations director of three wine-led Italian restaurants in the City of London.
Matt became Joké's business partner in June 2021, and is responsible for all front of house operations at Chishuru. He has two wine qualifications and will happily talk to you about unacylated anthocyanins in red wine, if asked.
Design & Build
Joké worked closely with interior designer & project manager Sasha Filskow to showcase authentic materials including rough plastered walls, wood grains and pigmented cement. Soft furnishings have been sourced from British-Nigerian designer Eva Sonaike to reflect the visceral and authentic roots of the Chishuru menu. Through strong graphics, rich colours and carefully curated lighting, including a commissioned light feature from South African designer Mash.T, alongside table tops and stonework custom-made in North Africa, create a sense of home.
The illustrations of women in the alcove table downstairs were created by Afiya who can be contacted for commissions via her Instagram here.
Our front of house build was overseen by Andy and Matt at Thinking Space who we are very happy to recommend highly.
