MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
Events organiser Margot Henderson
Margot Henderson, 54, co-founded events company arnold & Henderson in 2002, catering for weddings, and art and fashion events. she lives in London with husband, chef Fergus Henderson. they have a son, 24, and two daughters, 23 and 19. WHEN I met Fergus in 1992, he swept me off my feet and said we should be lovers and open a restaurant — it was giddy days!
A few months after marrying, we opened a tiny restaurant with our friend Jon Spiteri above the French House pub in London’s Soho.
But in 1995, Fergus left to open his own restaurant, St John. He became a superstar chef — Guy Ritchie took Madonna to St John on one of their first dates.
I couldn’t join him as I was busy having babies. I threw a few plates in frustration. Jon’s wife Melanie Arnold came in to help me run the French House. She had three small children, too, and they grew up running round the kitchen.
After seven years, the pub kicked us out, so we set up a catering company. Back then, wedding catering was very formal. I wanted a sense of fun with family-style. I don’t like high flower arrangements: you need to see each other, pass food and interact. Round tables can feel corporate, but long ones can add to the feeling of a special feast.
You can do a vegetable starter such as artichokes and vinaigrette, then go on to the next course without changing plates. Sometimes we do away with a starter.
At first, we cooked from my flat’s kitchen — using the windowsills as fridges. I’d empty boxes holding the kids’ toys and use them as food storage. It was tough. I thought I was going lose a husband.
But then my friend James offered us space in an old Victorian school in the East End that he was converting into studios for creative businesses. Melanie and I moved in and started cooking in the studios.
In 2006, James suggested we open a lunch restaurant, Rochelle Canteen, in the school bike shed. Artists and fashion designers started seeking us out. Last year we opened a restaurant for dinner and weekends, at London’s ICA gallery.
The catering side of the business is booming. We’ve done events from Scotland to Moscow. Our aim is to offer beautiful food with large tables and happy eaters squished together — a buffet on the table.
I’ve loved being a mother, but now the kids are grown up, it’s time to put my energy into work!
arnoldandhenderson.com