REFURBISHMENT OF THE KITCHENS AND RESTAURANT AT NORTHCLIFFE HOUSE, DERRY STREET, LONDON W8
The issue of providing a round-the-clock meals service for a maximum of 2000 staff when the main kitchen and restaurant was out of action posed a major issue for Facilities Operations Director Paul Rudd.
Based just off Kensington High Street, the offices of Associated Newspapers Limited are home to five major newspapers – the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Evening Standard, London Metro,
Breakfast is taken very seriously as Kensington High Street is mostly shut at
“Hallmark’s idea was to build a temporary kitchen in the atrium of the building”, says Rudd. “It was a brilliant exercise and we were able to serve two hot meals, snacks and the staff had their breakfast!”
Constructed by Hallmark Kitchen’s sister company Blagbrough Contracts – working in conjunction with architect Bradshaw Rowse Harker – the atrium restaurant seated around 70 and was finished to look as though it were a permanent part of the building – and not a temporary structure shielding the refurbishment work in the main kitchen.
With the staff happy for the time being, work commenced on the new kitchen, which involved Blagbrough knocking two old sections of kitchen into one, while Hallmark Kitchens designed and installed the equipment and serveries.
The serveries included – at the client’s request – brightly coloured Pyrolave (lava rock) worktops. “They look fantastic and we wanted something that would create an ‘effect’”, says Rudd, “but they are not quite as hard wearing as we were promised.
“The contract was tendered”, says Rudd, “and Hallmark won it on the design. Since 1998 bits and pieces had been added piecemeal and we needed something to transform the area. The restaurant is very, very busy and quite tight for space.
“This was an exciting thing to be involved with. It is not that complicated really, you just need a good team of people. Hallmark came up with the right package and I think price-wise they were in the right area.
“Hallmark responded very well; there are always problems to overcome and you can always do this if you have the right people – Hallmark has a good team and Blagbrough also worked very hard – they both pulled it off and made it happen.
“I would say it was a successful project.”
The new restaurant was: “Well received. There was no fuss – we took the temporary restaurant down over a weekend and opened on the Monday. Judging from the impressions of the staff, feedback has been very, very positive and the restaurant is as popular as ever”.
Operated by Baxter Smith, some 50 staff are involved in the main kitchen and adjacent coffee shop.
