Oistins, Barbados

Every island has its weekend rave location where locals mix with tourists. St Lucia has Friday Jump Up, Tobago has Sunday School, Antigua has Shirley Heights also on Sunday. Barbados has Oistins Fish Fry.

Oistins is a fishing village on the south coast. The event is a mixture of good local food – mainly fish, music, and shopping with a great mix of locals and tourists. It is a true fishing village with boats in the bay and a real fish market with all sorts of fish on the slab. We saw great flying fish and red snapper ready to be sold. Next door are a series of bars and small kitchens around some simple seating. One of the bars has the biggest boom box you have ever seen. In the centre is a stage and more electronic amplification. It was the night of Michael Jackson’s death so much of the music was his.

Also dotted along the sea front are a series of stalls selling local goods – paintings, jewellery cups wood work – some of very good standard- not just tourist junk

The food was great flying fish, sandwiches, fish kebabs, Creole shrimp French fries rice and peas all washed down with good Banks beer. There were meat dishes as well. There were great characters cooking and serving and the service was fast.

We left early so we missed the music, but there were lots of locals playing cards and dominoes. There is a mighty thwack when a Bajan puts his dominoes down.

It was a great night out with excellent food prices and lots to see. You can get there from any hotel in Barbados that Tropical Sky features. Closest are Almond Casuarina and Turtle Beach.

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