🍽️ Restaurant Kitchen Upgrade for The Fifth Trust at The Vineyard Garden Centre

Client: The Fifth Trust Charity | Location: Elham Valley, Kent

Project Type: Restaurant Kitchen Refurbishment | Accessible Design | Energy-Conscious Installation

Sector: Charity | Horticulture | Hospitality | Supported Employment

🌿 About The Fifth Trust: Empowering Through Inclusive Employment

The Fifth Trust is a remarkable charitable organisation dedicated to supporting adults with learning disabilities by providing meaningful work opportunities and skills training. Their community enterprises—including The Vineyard Garden Centre, Kent Log Sales, and an on-site café—create inclusive spaces where staff and learners collaborate in horticulture, hospitality, and retail.

Having partnered with The Fifth Trust since 2015 on their “Cook Club” kitchen installation, we were honoured to support their next milestone: modernising and upgrading their restaurant kitchen to better serve the team and community.

🎯 Project Brief: A Safe, Stylish, and Functional Kitchen for Everyone

The existing kitchen needed a complete refurbishment to meet growing demands and improve safety, accessibility, and efficiency for both employees and adults with learning disabilities. Key priorities included:

• Enhanced visibility and supervision for staff

• Simplified, user-friendly appliance operation

• A warm, inviting environment with vibrant finishes

• Energy-conscious equipment to work within limited site electrical capacity

🛠️ Our Approach: Inclusive Design with Practical Execution

✅ Kitchen Layout & Visibility

• Preserved the open serving hatch to maintain visual interaction between kitchen staff and customers—reflecting the Trust’s ethos of connection and transparency

• Designed spacious, accessible pathways for easy supervision and teamwork, accommodating a wide range of abilities

✅ Accessible & Energy-Efficient Appliances

• Installed energy-saving induction hobs and convection ovens to ensure consistent, easy cooking

• Added a commercial dishwasher suitable for diverse user capabilities

• Carefully selected appliances compatible with the site’s existing electrical infrastructure

✅ Vibrant & Hygienic Finishes

• Installed BioClad’s coloured UPVC hygienic wall panels to add warmth and personality while ensuring easy cleaning

• Complemented modern finishes with original wooden beams to create a welcoming and homey atmosphere

✅ Electrical & Plumbing Upgrades

• Complete kitchen rewiring to meet current safety regulations

• Upgraded plumbing to support new appliance layouts and ensure reliable operation

🤝 Collaborative Execution with The Fifth Trust Team

Our works were scheduled alongside The Fifth Trust’s New Year café refresh, involving redecoration and furniture upgrades. This close collaboration ensured smooth coordination with minimal disruption to daily activities.

🌟 Outcome: A Kitchen That Champions Inclusion, Learning, and Community

The refurbished restaurant kitchen is now a vibrant hub where students and staff work side-by-side in a safe, supportive environment. This space truly reflects The Fifth Trust’s mission—empowering people of all abilities to learn, contribute, and connect with their community through meaningful work.

We are proud to continue supporting The Fifth Trust and look forward to future opportunities to help grow their impactful projects.

👇 Scroll down to explore more of our successful commercial kitchen projects and see how we can help transform your hospitality space

📞 Ready to Upgrade Your Commercial Kitchen?

If you’re looking for a professional, inclusive, and energy-efficient kitchen refurbishment, call us today on 01304 249963 to discuss your project and get expert advice tailored to your needs.