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BARBS Teams Up With Endurance Athlete Rey Smart for 5K Community Run in London

BARBS Teams Up With Endurance Athlete Rey Smart for 5K Community Run in London

The one-off event, BARBS x Run 246, will take place on the morning of Saturday 28 February, blending movement, music and Caribbean culture in the heart of the capital.

The social-paced 5K will begin at the Barbados High Commission in Russell Square before finishing at BARBS’ home inside Queen of Hoxton in Shoreditch.

Runners will be welcomed at the finish line with Barbados-inspired food, soft drinks and rum punch.

From 100km Around Barbados to London’s Streets

The London event follows Rey Smart’s recent 100km-plus solo endurance run around the entire island of Barbados.

Completed in more than 18 hours in intense heat, the challenge raised funds for Cancer Research UK while celebrating Barbadian heritage.

The feat, part of Smart’s Run 246 initiative, generated attention across both the Caribbean and the UK -n combining athletic endurance with cultural pride.

Now, that same energy is coming to London.

More Than a Run

Organisers say BARBS x Run 246 is about far more than kilometres.

Open to all abilities, the run is designed to be inclusive and community-led – bringing together Londoners through shared heritage, movement and food.

Since opening at Queen of Hoxton, BARBS has positioned itself as more than just a restaurant. The venue has become a cultural hub where Caribbean identity, community and cuisine collide.

This collaboration extends that ethos beyond the kitchen – turning a Saturday morning 5K into a celebration of Bajan culture in the capital.

Rey Smart said:

“Run 246 was about honouring my roots and proving what’s possible when culture and community come together. Bringing that energy to London with BARBS feels like the perfect continuation.”