Battersea Arts Centre has appointed Nigel James as the new Executive Head Chef, having taken its event catering in-house following the multi-million pound restoration of its Grand Hall.
Nigel joins with an impressive resume from some of London’s leading caterers and restaurants, including The Admirable Crichton, Detox Kitchen and The Packed Saddle. He also has a degree in nutrition and is passionate about creating healthy and delicious menus.
Heading a team of four, Nigel is responsible for menu creation and leading the food operation across the upcoming Phoenix Season of shows, during which Battersea Arts Centre will welcome 40,000 audience members. Nigel will lead the team each evening during the busy pre-show food service, which runs in the two hour period before each show across 80 covers. He will also lead the in-house events catering business and run the kitchen for the busy Scratch Bar, which is open to the public throughout the week.
On his appointment, Nigel says: “I am pleased to be here at Battersea Arts Centre and I am excited to be a part of such a historic chapter within the organisation. I am looking forward to developing the culinary offering and creating a range fresh, seasonal and standout menus. ”
David Jubb, Artistic Director and CEO of Battersea Arts Centre says: “We are delighted to welcome Nigel James to Battersea Arts Centre and look forward to his creative culinary vision at the venue. Nigel brings with him a wealth of expert knowledge and nutritional expertise and we cannot wait to see this reflected in the dishes he creates here.”
Battersea Arts Centre is a public space where people come together to be creative, see a show, explore the local heritage, play or relax. The organisation’s mission is to inspire people to take creative risks to shape the future. Shows and projects developed at Battersea Arts Centre also travel across the UK and the world. Battersea Arts Centre is situated in a Grade II Listed Victorian Town Hall building, which hosts commercial hires alongside a lively artistic programme. The building has undergone major capital refurbishments over the past few years, and recently reopened the Grand Hall following a three year restoration.