Peckham has always been, and will continue to be, a place for the people. This was undisputable after a delightful and cosy evening of wining and dining at the Peckham Arches. Tucked away under Peckham’s Rye station’s arches, this 600-capacity event space reflects the diverse and creative community that Peckham is known for. Okay, now let’s dive into the part we’re all dying to hear about – the food. Broke’s grub writer Ceri delves into the experience….
We were absolutely spoilt for choice at Peckham Arches, and so I couldn’t resist indulging in the best of both worlds by opting for a pizza from their sister bar Skylarking and sampling a few dishes from Novice Kitchen, the featured guest chef for the night as part of their ongoing Kitchen Takeover series.
We went for the nduja pizza because, let’s face it, I haven’t been living under a rock during its renaissance, and we’re shamelessly hooked on the spicy, porky goodness! Peckham Arches well and truly hit the ground running when they brought the pizza over. Someone arrest me because why haven’t I always been putting pickled red onions on our pizza??? It’s an absolute game changer, especially if you’re a pickle girly like me. The pizza was super well balanced, with a nice heat to it (thanks to the nduja chilli tomato base) as well as a zingy kick and crunch provided by the generous sprinkling of pickled chillies and red onions on top. May I also add, no soggy base on this pizza! Huge news, I know. We’re going to give an extra five points go to Skylarking for not being stingy with the garlic sauce drizzled on top – even in the current climate!
Sticking to the apparent spicy theme, we were drinking Peckham Arches’ picante cocktail alongside our meal. I explained to the lovely girl serving us what I tend to go for in a cocktail, always favouring savoury over sweet, and anything on the spicier side would be a plus. When she came back with the picante it was as if she had read our minds. They hit the spot and went with my outfit too (bonus because who doesn’t love an unexpected outfit match?).
Since the beginning of October, Peckham Arches has been hosting weekly Kitchen Takeovers and weekday Supper Clubs. I was lucky enough to sample a few dishes from the Novice Kitchen Grill Takeover Menu. We went for the grilled Balinese Jam chicken wings and aubergine with a side of jasmine rice. It was so refreshing to experience flavours that you don’t always encounter daily, and it’s fair to say these dishes did not disappoint. The ‘culturally enlightened’ food, as described by Novice Kitchen, captured the vibrant and eclectic atmosphere at Peckham Arches. Novice Kitchen’s Balinese Jam showcased the diverse flavours of Indonesian culture, and I was grateful for the generous amount of heat from their Sambal for warming me up from the inside out on a cold November night! Novice Kitchen also cooked over coals giving his dishes an added smoky element. Overall, big recommendation from me; defo check him out!
Something that really stood out, aside from the delish food and drinks, was how welcoming and accommodating everyone working at Peckham Arches were. The quality of the service really does make or break a night and it goes without saying the team at Peckham Arches made our night just that little bit more special. For me a perfect night needs three things: good food, good drinks, and good company. Peckham Arches ticked all three, so if you agree with my criteria, then you should scope out their upcoming Supper Clubs and weekly Kitchen Takeovers. Make sure to grab a ticket before they’re gone. I know I will be. See you there!