☕ Dalby Cafe – Historic Café Refurbishment in Margate

Client: Mark (Owner/Operator, Dalby Cafe)
Location: Margate, Kent
Project Type: Commercial Kitchen Refurbishment | Café Renovation
Sector: Hospitality | Café & Restaurant | Food Service

🏛️ Project Overview: A Beloved Local Institution Gets a Fresh New Look

Nestled in the heart of Margate, Dalby Cafe is one of the area’s oldest and most cherished cafés. Since opening shortly after World War II, it has earned a reputation as a local favourite, known for serving delicious breakfasts and quality meals made with premium ingredients.

However, after decades of loyal service, the café’s kitchen and serving areas were in need of a much-deserved upgrade to continue meeting customer expectations for excellent food and service.

The COVID-19 lockdowns provided a rare window of opportunity for a full refurbishment, allowing Dalby Cafe to reimagine its space and emerge stronger post-pandemic.

🔧 Our Role: Full Kitchen & Front Counter Refurbishment

Working hand-in-hand with Mark, we undertook an extensive consultation process to bring his vision to life—modernising the kitchen and front counter while preserving the welcoming, high-quality atmosphere Dalby’s patrons love.

✅ Kitchen & Counter Layout Design

• Developed a layout that optimised workflow and created space for a dedicated dishwashing area, helping reduce congestion and improve kitchen efficiency.

• Designed for smooth movement, allowing kitchen and front-of-house teams to work seamlessly side-by-side.

✅ Comprehensive Refurbishment & Upgrade

• Stripped out the old kitchen and serving areas for a fresh start.

• Upgraded electrical and plumbing infrastructure to meet modern standards.

• Installed hygienic UPVC cladding throughout kitchen and dishwashing zones for easy cleaning and maintenance.

• Laid a slip-resistant vinyl floor to enhance safety and durability.

• Fitted a new L-shaped extraction canopy to meet high kitchen ventilation standards.

✅ Equipment Installation & Enhanced Efficiency

• Installed high-powered cooking appliances including service fridges and hot-holding units, all positioned within a 1-meter radius of the chef for maximum efficiency.

• The new kitchen appliances support the café’s volume without compromising food quality and consistency.

🛠️ Front Counter Design & Refurbishment

• Custom-designed and fabricated off-site to minimize disruption during installation.

• Installed alongside newly tiled walls and freshly decorated surfaces.

• Thoughtfully designed with cup dispensers and drinking water fonts to improve customer experience and streamline operations—without losing the café’s historic charm.

🎉 Successful Outcome & Glowing Feedback

Completed just in time for reopening after COVID restrictions eased, the refurbishment has been met with enthusiastic praise from Mark and his customers alike. Dalby Cafe now proudly ranks within the top 10% of hospitality businesses worldwide on TripAdvisor!

🚀 Conclusion: A Café Ready for the Future

With its modernised kitchen and updated front-of-house, Dalby Cafe is perfectly positioned to continue delivering exceptional service and delicious food while preserving its status as a treasured Margate institution.

We’re honoured to have supported Mark and his team on this exciting journey and look forward to continuing our partnership through future maintenance and upgrades.

📞 Interested in refurbishing your café or commercial kitchen? Call us now at 01304 249963!

⬇️ Scroll down to see photos of this stunning transformation and get inspired!