🍺 The Albion Rooms – Transforming a Seaside Hotel into a Stylish Venue

Kitchen Design and Build for Pete Doherty’s New Hotel, Bar, and Recording Studio

The Albion Rooms, once a dilapidated hotel in Margate, has been transformed into the new home for Pete Doherty and The Libertines. This crumbling seaside property required a full refurbishment to evolve into a stylish 10-bedroom hotel, bar, and recording studio. The ambitious project is aimed at blending the eclectic energy of the band with the rich history of Margate’s coastal charm.

🔑 Scope of Work

Our brief for this exciting project was to create a general-purpose kitchen within a relatively small space, allowing for menu flexibility to suit the needs of both hotel guests and the recording studio team. This kitchen needed to support the creation of diverse and high-quality meals, reflecting the vibrant nature of the establishment.

🛠️ Planning and Approval Process

Before beginning the work, the new kitchen’s extraction system had to be approved by the local council. We meticulously prepared a comprehensive planning pack, including elevation drawings, detailed equipment specifications, and background noise surveys. After submission, the council reviewed the plans, and approval was granted within about 12 weeks, allowing us to proceed with the project.

🍳 Kitchen Design and Build

Hygienic Cladding and Slip-Resistant Flooring

To ensure a hygienic and safe kitchen environment, we installed Bioclad hygienic wall cladding on all surfaces. This material provides a smooth, easy-to-clean surface, ideal for maintaining cleanliness in a busy commercial kitchen. For the floor, we chose Altro Stronghold vinyl for its durability and highly slip-resistant properties, ensuring the safety of staff working in the kitchen.

Suspended Ceiling and LED Lighting

To complete the kitchen’s structure, we installed a suspended ceiling along with energy-efficient LED flat panel lighting. The combination of these elements created a well-lit, modern space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Stainless Steel Extraction System

We installed a stainless steel extraction ventilation system to handle the cooking fumes and heat produced in the kitchen. The system was ducted through to a flat roof area, where noise and odour control measures were put in place before the ducts rose five floors to the discharge point above the roofline. This ensures that cooking fumes are effectively removed, maintaining a comfortable environment for both the kitchen staff and hotel guests.

Versatile Cooking Equipment

Given the relatively small size of the kitchen, we focused on selecting versatile equipment that could support a variety of menu offerings. Key appliances installed include:

• Rational Combi Oven: A powerful and versatile cooking unit capable of baking, steaming, and roasting, perfect for preparing a variety of dishes.

• Blue Seal Hob with Fridge Below: A robust cooking hob paired with an under-counter fridge for additional storage and functionality.

• Other kitchen essentials included sinks, dishwashers, fryers, and refrigerated storage, all designed to ensure smooth operations.

Bar Area Appliances

We also provided several appliances for the downstairs public bar, The Wasteland, which opened in August 2019. These appliances were chosen to complement the kitchen’s versatile cooking equipment, ensuring that both the bar and the kitchen could support the full range of services required.

🎉 Outcome and Impact

The kitchen at The Albion Rooms is now fully operational and equipped to handle the diverse needs of the venue, from hotel dining to the busy demands of a recording studio. The combination of versatile cooking equipment, hygienic surfaces, and efficient ventilation systems ensures that the kitchen can cater to a wide variety of dishes while maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety.

The venue’s phased opening, starting with the recording studio and public bar, has already gained attention, and the successful implementation of the kitchen ensures that the upcoming restaurant phase, featuring local and guest chefs, will be well-equipped to serve a variety of high-quality meals.

🌟 Key Features & Highlights

• Bioclad hygienic wall cladding for a clean and safe kitchen environment

• Altro Stronghold vinyl flooring for slip resistance and safety

• Rational combi oven for versatile cooking options

• Blue Seal cooking hob with fridge storage below

• Full stainless steel extraction system with odour and noise control measures

• Appliances supplied for both the kitchen and bar areas

📞 Ready to transform your venue’s kitchen?

If you’re looking to refurbish or design a commercial kitchen for your venue, our expert team is here to help. From initial design to final installation, we can assist you in creating a functional and stylish kitchen space tailored to your needs.

Call us now at: 01304 249963
If you’re ready to get started or have questions about the design and build process, we’d love to hear from you.

📸 Scroll Down to See More Photos of This Project!

Get a closer look at the kitchen transformation at The Albion Rooms. See how we have turned this small but versatile space into a well-equipped kitchen that serves both the public bar and future restaurant.