🍽️ Kitchen Expansion & Refurbishment – Hartfields Café, Uckfield

Client: Hartfields Café & Produce Store
Location: Uckfield High Street, East Sussex
Project Type: Commercial Kitchen Expansion | Café Refurbishment | Front-of-House Refrigeration
Sector: Independent Retail & Hospitality | Café & Deli | Food Service

🌟 Project Overview: Growing with the Community

Hartfields Café is a well-loved independent food business nestled in the heart of Uckfield High Street, celebrated for its fresh, locally sourced produce and flavour-packed menu. With an ever-growing customer base and an increasingly busy kitchen, the Hartfields team decided it was time to take a bold step forward.

By expanding into the adjacent building, they aimed to double their seating capacity and build a larger, more efficient kitchen to keep up with demand. We were thrilled to partner with them to design and deliver a complete kitchen refurbishment and expansion—helping Hartfields continue serving their community with excellence and care.

🎯 Our Brief: Bigger, Better, and Modern Commercial Kitchen

The key objectives for this project included:

• Expanding the kitchen footprint to accommodate the larger dining area

• Upgrading surfaces and finishes to meet modern hygiene and safety standards

• Integrating a blend of existing and new appliances into a streamlined, functional layout

• Creating clearly defined kitchen work zones for improved workflow and efficiency

🛠️ Our Solution: Seamless Expansion & Hygiene-Focused Refurbishment

✅ Structural Integration & Extraction Upgrade

After knocking through the wall between the two buildings, we extended the kitchen infrastructure to maximize space. The existing extraction canopy was lengthened to house a stacked pair of Rational combi ovens, boosting cooking capacity without sacrificing precious floor space.

✅ Hygienic Wall, Floor & Ceiling Finishes

We installed Bioclad UPVC hygienic wall cladding throughout the kitchen, covering both the original and new areas for a clean, durable finish. The floors received Altro Stronghold slip-resistant safety flooring, meeting the highest hygiene and anti-slip standards critical for busy kitchens.
To complete the look, a wipe-clean suspended ceiling with integrated energy-efficient LED lighting was fitted, brightening the space while lowering energy costs.

✅ Appliance Installation & Kitchen Zoning

A smart combination of existing and new kitchen appliances was carefully integrated. The kitchen was divided into dedicated zones to optimize operations:

• Storage

• Preparation

• Cooking

• Servery

• Dishwashing

✅ Front-of-House Support

In addition to the back-of-house enhancements, we supplied new refrigerated servery counters to complement the refreshed customer-facing café area—ensuring fresh, visually appealing food displays.

🎉 The Result: A Transformed Kitchen for a Growing Local Favourite

Hartfields Café now boasts a modern, efficient, and hygienic kitchen that fully supports its expanding customer base and diverse menu offerings. Thanks to the updated layout and high-quality finishes, the team can continue delivering exceptional food—safely, quickly, and with confidence.

We’re proud to have played a part in supporting this beloved Uckfield business and wish James and his team ongoing success as they embark on this exciting new chapter.

📞 Ready to upgrade your kitchen or café space? Call us today at 01304 249963!

⬇️ Scroll down to see project photos and get inspired by our latest successful kitchen transformations!