Kitchen Refurbishment – The Coastguard Pub

Revitalising a Historic Seaside Pub with a Modern Commercial Kitchen

Project Overview: A New Chapter for The Coastguard Pub

The Coastguard Pub, a 300-year-old historic seaside landmark, is located in one of the most picturesque and sought-after spots on the Kent coastline, just a stone’s throw from France. Once a popular destination thanks to its stunning seafront location, the pub had seen a decline in recent years due to underinvestment. However, following its purchase by Shepherd Neame, the pub underwent a £200k refurbishment, breathing new life into the establishment.

As part of this major overhaul, we were contracted by Shepherd Neame to carry out the refurbishment of the commercial kitchen. The existing kitchen, like much of the building, was outdated and no longer fit for purpose. The equipment was in poor condition, and the extraction system was far from adequate to handle the expected volume of customers.

Key Challenges and Objectives

The main challenges for the kitchen refurbishment were:

• Outdated and inefficient kitchen equipment, including an extraction system that couldn’t handle the high volumes of trade expected in a busy seaside pub.

• The addition of an external bar area and kitchen serving section to cater to customers dining outdoors, particularly for fish and chips.

• Ensuring that the kitchen was designed to handle large volumes of food, especially fried items like battered fish.

Our Approach: Designing a Kitchen for High Volume Service

1. Complete Kitchen Overhaul

We completely reworked the existing kitchen, removing outdated and worn-out equipment, including the extraction canopy, which was no longer fit for purpose. The kitchen’s layout was redesigned to allow for better efficiency and flow, ensuring that it could easily cope with the anticipated demand from the new outdoor dining areas and increased customer numbers.

2. New Extraction System

A brand-new extraction ventilation system was installed, specifically designed to handle the high volumes of cooking fumes and grease generated by the kitchen. This included an updated extraction canopy, ensuring that all air was safely removed and the kitchen remained fresh and comfortable for the staff working in it.

3. Cooking and Preparation Equipment

We outfitted the kitchen with new cooking equipment tailored to the pub’s new focus on serving high-quality food. This included a range of commercial refrigeration units and preparation equipment designed to handle the increased demand.

4. Outdoor Bar and Kitchen Area

One of the major changes to the building was the addition of an external bar area and kitchen serving section. This allowed the pub to serve food to customers enjoying the large outdoor patio area or sitting on the beach. The kitchen’s design had to accommodate this expanded service area and ensure that food was served quickly and efficiently.

5. Chip Shop-Style Hot Holding Cabinet

To meet the high demand for battered fish, we designed and installed a large hot holding cabinet, similar to those found in traditional chip shops. This ensured that the fish and chips could be served piping hot and fresh to customers in the outdoor seating area, without compromising quality.

Successful Outcome: A Pub Reborn

The refurbishment of The Coastguard Pub’s kitchen was a success, with all new equipment, systems, and design elements put in place to ensure smooth, efficient service. The addition of the outdoor kitchen area and the chip shop-style hot holding cabinet were particularly well-received by customers, allowing the pub to serve delicious food to patrons seated outdoors, enjoying the seafront views.

When the pub opened its doors in April, it received fantastic reviews from both locals and visitors, with many praising the new facilities and the pub’s ability to serve high-quality food, quickly and efficiently. The increased volume of customers and the revamped offering were a testament to the success of the refurbishment.