Principal Haley
New Heavy Duty Commercial Kitchen, Bespoke Extraction System, Food Preparation Areas and Food Service Pass.
Location
Principal Hotel Location – Oxford Street, Manchester
The Challenge
This hotel has undergone a substantial multi million pound refurbishment, with an improved front of house, food and beverage area. The development team had ambitious plans to completely change the existing restaurant and bar area. To service this area they required a new heavy duty kitchen, bespoke extraction system, food preparation areas and service pass. The exciting new menu required a large selection of different cooking appliances; the solution would need to accommodate this within a basement kitchen area. This presented a number of technical challenges in the design, namely restricted space, low ceiling height, a new systems required to fit the existing flue and crucially a bespoke extraction and air input system that had the ability to extract the smoke and remove the heat from the area, whilst still allowing a solution that would service the new and very varied menu. The solution would need to incorporate as new central cooking suite, extraction, air input, commercial refrigeration, food preparation and food service
Our solution
We consulted with the Team at the Principal Hotel (previously the Palace Hotel) they had a number of previous designs commissioned which unfortunately fell short of their requirements, so Chef Trading was asked to provide a new design which would accommodate their unique requirements. Chef Trading started from scratch with the kitchen layout and provided a design solution including a new central commercial cooking suite, extraction, air input, commercial refrigeration, food preparation areas, meat section, pastry section and food service pass incorporating various service points. Chef Trading provided all of the equipment for the new kitchen and service area, we consulted with the appointed mechanical and electrical engineers to ensure the kitchen was able to be fitted with the challenging site restrictions of ceiling height, ducting and electrics. We then proceeded to project manage the kitchen installation with our team of bespoke catering equipment engineers fitting the equipment to the pressing schedule required by the Principal. Finally we provided full operation training to all staff members on the new equipment and commercial kitchen, in preparation for commissioning and sign off. The Restaurant and Bar which was renamed the Refuge Bar and Restaurant opened it doors in Autumn 2016. Gone is the stuffy Hotel Bar and Restaurant and in its place is a relaxed environment to socialise, relax, drink and eat. With a Menu and service that has delivered a innovative and exciting new venue in Manchester. The Restaurant and Bar Refurbishment really shows off this listed building in all its all it glory. The Kitchen supplied by Chef Trading is a key part to the successful redevelopment of the Palace Hotel to the Principal; and the extremely popular refuge restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner service daily. The Principal is now one of Manchester’s top meeting and socialising venues and a project we feel very proud to have been part of.
