Person wearing bright blue suit relaxes at an outdoor restaurant table with white tablecloth and glassware.

Warmth and Happiness from Margot and Melanie


I recently had the absolute pleasure of photographing at Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch, part of my ongoing project on London restaurateurs. Set in the grounds of the old Rochelle Street School, it’s a place full of quiet charm—tucked away behind a wall, but buzzing with life once you step inside.


I’ve always loved being in kitchens. There’s something magical about watching raw ingredients transform into beautiful plates of food. It’s like alchemy. While I was there, I got to see Chef George preparing the freshest scallops from Cornwall for that day’s lunch—handled with such care, cooked with confidence, and destined to impress.


I’d reached out to Margot Henderson OBE about taking part in the project, and she kindly agreed to be photographed with her long-time business partner Melanie Arnold. Both of them were an absolute joy—warm, open, and genuinely kind. It was clear that the friendly, welcoming energy of the staff comes straight from the top.

Two people sit together on a patio bench surrounded by greenery and flowers outside a brick building.
Two people sitting on stone wall surrounded by lush garden plants and wildflowers on a sunny day.
Fresh raw spinach leaves piled in a wooden bowl on a metal surface.

Margot and Melanie have worked together since the early 1990s, first running The French House Dining Room before opening Rochelle Canteen in 2004. Margot has written a cookbook called You’re All Invited and was awarded an OBE in 2022 for her services to the culinary world. Together, they’ve created something really special—a place where the food speaks for itself, and everyone feels at home.

Chef wearing gloves shapes raw hamburger patties over stainless steel sink in commercial kitchen.
A chef in a white shirt and navy apron prepares food at a commercial kitchen workstation.
Fresh scallops in shells with orange coral and gray sediment attached to the surfaces.
A restaurant dining room scene with empty place settings and glassware arranged on tables with wooden chairs.
Chef in white coat and blue apron grills bread slices on a commercial grill in professional kitchen.
Sliced sourdough bread being grilled on a ridged grill pan with tongs placing pieces down.
Fresh green spinach leaves on a wooden cutting board against a stainless steel surface.
Raw scallops with orange roe sitting on a perforated metal cooking tray.
Fresh opened raw scallops in their shells with orange roe and black pearls displayed on ice.
Abstract macro photograph showing radial patterns in ice with yellow and brown tones creating a starburst effect.
Someone writes on a chalkboard menu displaying daily specials and prices in a restaurant setting.
A metal mixing bowl contains whipped cream or white frosting with a red spatula and dark spoon on a green surface.
Close-up detail of overlapping geometric patterns in pink and blue textiles showing woven fabric textures.
An elegant dark wooden door with white marble surround and red brick facade entrance to a residential building.
A fashionable bright yellow turtleneck sweater with perforated knit pattern being worn in a rustic setting.
Vintage stone plaque dated 1849 embedded in red brick building facade.
Professional black and white portrait of a photographer in a black turtleneck holding a vintage camera.

Your Business Photographer In London


Looking for a London based photographer to elevate your business? Click here to get in touch. If you want to know more about me, click here.

Row of fashion and retail brand logos including Nobulls, DCA, and Angel London.