Chef Keith Goddard takes his fine dining expertise to Battersea
A chef’s table experience has to be at the top of any foodie’s bucket list. Tucked away in the heart of Battersea, London, lies a unique private dining space that offers just this.
Arch 65, which opened earlier this year, is the brainchild of celebrated chef Keith Goddard. Situated in a railway arch in Battersea, the formerly industrial space has been transformed into an elegant dining space like no other. Available for exclusive hire, for seated dinners of up to 24 people or drinks and canapé receptions for up to 50, Arch 65 is the ultimate private dining experience. With a view into an open plan kitchen, guests are invited to witness their dinner being prepared by Keith and his expert team of chefs. Despite the ability of having significantly more guests than a standard London chef’s table, Arch 65 manages to maintain an intimate atmosphere.
Having trained at the French Culinary Institute in New York and worked in some of the most famous Michelin starred restaurants in the world, including working alongside Tom Aikens, Keith is accustomed to the incredibly high culinary standards expected from top chefs. In 2011, Keith decided to leave the restaurant business and utilised his wealth of experience to create his premium catering and events company, Keith Goddard Catering (formerly known as Munch Food Company). Prioritising in delivering a truly personalised service, whether it’s for a canapé party or a boardroom buffet, Keith’s client list includes Alexander McQueen, Blackstone, Boston Consulting Group, Burberry, Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss and the Battersea Power Station.
Keith prides himself on innovation, and this is evident in all of his cooking. At a recent breakfast launch for Laura Mercier at Harvey Nichols, Keith put a spin on the American pancake breakfast classic to create bite-sized Bacon & Maple Syrup Doughnuts (which taste as good as they sound). And the menus at Arch 65 are no exception. Keith prides himself on personalisation and, unlike many private dining spaces there is no set menu in sight. Anyone who makes a reservation with Arch 65 will have the option of a bespoke menu; so whether you desire Shepherd’s Pie or Lobster, Keith will make the perfect menu, using the finest quality ingredients, to suit your personal tastes. Whatever you’re looking for, expect to be welcomed with Champagne and Keith’s signature canapés (the Ultimate Christmas Dinner Canapé is one not to be missed this festive season), followed by a menu of your choice and finished with coffee and petit fours.
Beyond this basic arrangement, it is hard to describe exactly what to expect of the experience, given that the menu is not the only bespoke part of Arch 65. Keith and his team will work closely with you to ensure that every element your private dining experience is everything that you want it to be. For clients who desire a specialist wine, Keith has all the contacts to make this happen – and can even create a menu based around your choice of wine. With a specialist cocktail maker and a top flower arranger, Keith’s events team is truly skilled, leaving you wondering if there is anything they cannot do!
While there seem to be many private dining experiences available in London, nothing quite matches up to Arch 65’s standard. It is only available on an exclusive hire basis. There are no ‘noisy neighbours’, unless you count the occasional albeit charming rumble of a train above. Set slightly off the main road, there are also no concerns over being interrupted by passers-by. The charm of Arch 65 is that you don’t really know it’s there, until you do. The only people you’ll be sharing this delightful venue with, are Keith and his team. The juxtaposition of a busy kitchen, with a calm private dining space, all in an open plan setting creates a truly incredible atmosphere. And for those who love their food, the opportunity to see and chat to the chefs while they are preparing your food is an experience, which is increasingly hard to come by in London.
In creating Arch 65, Keith has managed to accumulate all the best qualities of a restaurant, coupled with the ultimate personalised service, to create this one-of-a-kind experience. For those among you struggling to find a Christmas party venue, or indeed a Christmas gift for the foodie in your life, give Keith’s team a call as we can assure you, that you will not be disappointed.
For any enquiries, please contact Charlotte Dracup on charlotte@keithgoddardcatering.com or visit www.keithgoddardcatering.com
