The Pickled Crab, Southam, Warwickshire
The Pickled Crab is an award-winning culinary brand led by chef Nigel Keller-Godwin.
Originally a fine dining restaurant in Warwick, the business evolved into an exclusive private chef and events service, then later relaunched as a deli in Southam.
We helped transform their online presence to reflect this evolution, delivering a sustainable, SEO-friendly WordPress website that grows with the brand.
About the client:
The Pickled Crab Deli
Founded by chef Nigel Keller-Godwin, The Pickled Crab has become known for its focus on premium, locally sourced ingredients and intimate dining experiences.
Based in Southam, Warwickshire, the brand’s journey from restaurant to private chef service and deli reflects its adaptability and continued dedication to quality food.
Their exclusive supper clubs, serving up to 12 guests, offer unique seasonal menus that highlight Nigel’s award-winning expertise.
The Challenge
When The Pickled Crab pivoted from a brick-and-mortar restaurant to a private dining and events service, their original website no longer matched the new business direction.
Visitors struggled to find booking details or understand the evolving services, while performance issues such as slow loading and outdated design affected engagement.
The client also wanted to reduce the site’s carbon footprint and adopt a flexible WordPress maintenance solution without unnecessary ongoing costs.
The Solution
We developed a new WordPress website designed around clarity, speed, and sustainability. Starting with a complete UX audit, we mapped the user journey to make key actions—booking, viewing menus, and learning about services – effortless.
Key improvements included:
Redesigned user interface with elegant, animated page titles to enhance engagement
- Responsive design for seamless browsing across all devices
- Updated menu and booking system for private events and supper clubs
- Development of a bespoke booking feature to simplify reservations
- Optimised images and server performance to improve load speed
- Migration to eco-friendly hosting, cutting the site’s digital carbon output
- Implementation of pay-as-you-go WordPress maintenance and care, offering flexibility and control
Every design decision was made with sustainability, usability, and search performance in mind – creating a site that looks great, runs efficiently, and communicates Nigel’s expertise clearly.
The Results
The Pickled Crab’s new website now delivers a professional, user-friendly experience that supports the business’s shift from restaurant to deli and private events.
Key outcomes include:
- Smooth transition across three business models: restaurant, private chef, and deli
- Faster loading speeds and improved technical SEO performance
- Higher user engagement and easier access to menus and booking forms
- Above-average email engagement rates thanks to integrated mailing list functionality
- Ongoing flexible WordPress support ensuring long-term stability and growth
The digital transformation has allowed The Pickled Crab to reach its ideal audience; people seeking high-end private dining, and unique culinary experiences – while lowering its digital carbon impact.
Design highlights
Homepage Hero Section: Custom photography showcasing Nigel’s dishes, paired with a subtle animated title for visual impact.
Navigation: Simplified menu structure guiding visitors toward bookings and event information.
Mobile Experience: Optimised for readability and performance across all devices.
Accessibility: High-contrast text and clear call-to-action buttons for intuitive browsing.
Sustainability: Lightweight code and renewable-powered hosting.
What The Pickled Crab owner has to say about our services:
Neil has been part of my business strategy since 2013, throughout this time he has proven to be a person that consistently delivers a high level product, always goes above and beyond the call of duty. You can tell Neil’s a true professional, just by talking to him, the way he delivers the different scenarios to help your business move forward.