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 Client

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

Having worked with The Fifth Trust previously on the installation of their “Cook Club” kitchen in 2015, we were proud to return to support the next step in their journey: modernising and reorganising their restaurant kitchen.

The Brief: A Safe, Stylish, and Functional Kitchen for All Users

The restaurant kitchen was in need of a complete upgrade to meet growing demands and improve safety and functionality for both staff and students. As the kitchen is operated collaboratively by employees and adults with learning disabilities, the design required a strong emphasis on:

• Ease of supervision

• Operational simplicity

• User-friendly appliances

• Visual appeal

Additionally, the site’s rural location and limited electrical supply required a careful and energy-efficient approach to appliance specification.

Our Approach: Inclusive Design & Thoughtful Execution

Drawing on our longstanding relationship with the Trust and deep understanding of the site, we developed a kitchen plan that was visually appealing, safe, and practical for a diverse range of users.

✅ Kitchen Layout & Visibility

• Maintained the existing open serving hatch to preserve visual interaction between the kitchen team and customers—a key value of the Trust’s service model

• Designed the layout to allow easy movement, supervision, and teamwork across skill levels

✅ Accessible & Energy-Efficient Appliances

• Installed simple, easy-to-use appliances including:

  • Energy-efficient induction hobs

  • Convection ovens for consistent cooking

  • Commercial-grade dishwasher

• Carefully selected all appliances to operate within the site’s existing electrical capacity

✅ Vibrant, Hygienic Wall Cladding

• To break away from the clinical feel often associated with commercial kitchens, we installed BioClad’s vivid range of coloured UPVC hygienic panels

• Combined the new finishes with the building’s original wooden beams to create a space that is warm, welcoming, and hygienically sound

✅ Electrical & Plumbing Upgrades

• Carried out a full kitchen rewire to ensure compliance with current safety standards

• Upgraded and replaced much of the plumbing infrastructure to support the new layout and appliances

Collaboration with the Fifth Trust Team

Our works were coordinated to align with the Trust’s own New Year café refresh, during which their team redecorated and installed new furniture. We worked closely alongside them to ensure minimal disruption and a smooth transition into the new space.

The Result: A Kitchen That Supports Learning, Inclusion, and Community

The upgraded restaurant kitchen now serves as a vibrant, functional hub where students and staff collaborate daily. It’s a space that embodies The Fifth Trust’s mission—enabling people of all abilities to learn, work, and connect with their community.

We’re proud to continue supporting the incredible work of The Fifth Trust and look forward to future collaborations.