🍕 Babydoll’s Wood Fired Pizza – Port Lympne Reserve 🌿

✨ Stunning Restaurant Transformation Inspired by a Beloved Conservation Icon

🌟 Overview: A Dining Experience Rooted in Nature and Legacy

Nestled within the beautifully landscaped grounds of Port Lympne Reserve, Babydoll’s Wood Fired Pizza is more than just a restaurant — it’s a heartfelt tribute to one of the reserve’s most cherished residents. Named after Babydoll, the last surviving original gorilla from Howletts Zoo, this vibrant new dining destination captures the spirit of conservation and community. Babydoll was a gentle giant who lived to the remarkable age of 57, embodying the Aspinall family’s pioneering work in wildlife protection.

Our task was to transform a modest, outdated café into a striking, contemporary restaurant space that honours this legacy while delivering a top-tier dining experience to visitors.

🎯 Project Goals: Bringing Babydoll’s Vision to Life

• 🍽️ Create a stylish, high-capacity restaurant capable of welcoming both families and groups visiting the reserve.

• 🎨 Design a kitchen with visual impact that guests can admire, integrating the kitchen seamlessly with the restaurant’s interior aesthetic.

• 🏗️ Address structural challenges including reinforcing the flooring to support the weight of an authentic wood-fired pizza oven.

• 🧼 Deliver a hygienic, durable kitchen environment that maintains high standards of cleanliness without sacrificing style or atmosphere.

🛠️ Bespoke Kitchen Design: Function Meets Front-of-House Visibility

Unlike traditional kitchens hidden away from customers, Babydoll’s features an open-plan kitchen that invites diners to watch the magic happen. This required finishes that balanced durability with design elegance:

• 🤍 Walls facing customers are clad in classic white metro tiles arranged in a timeless brick bond pattern, lending a clean, rustic charm.

• 🧽 Back-of-house areas use easy-clean uPVC hygienic wall cladding, ensuring practicality for kitchen staff.

• 🔪 Stainless steel preparation benches and counters are positioned to maximise workflow efficiency while maintaining a sleek look.

🏋️ Flooring Reinforcement: Supporting Heavy-Duty Equipment

One of the key technical challenges was supporting the weight of a large wood-fired pizza oven, weighing over 500kg. The original timber-joist floor was insufficient, so:

• 🧱 We removed floorboards and poured a reinforced concrete pad, creating a solid foundation capable of bearing the oven’s weight safely.

• 🦶 The floor was then sealed with sturdy plywood and topped with Altro Stronghold 30 slip-resistant flooring, combining safety with durability for a busy kitchen environment.

💎 Functional and Stylish Finishes: Elevating the Space

To round out the kitchen and servery area, we installed:

• ✨ A wipe-clean suspended ceiling system that enhances hygiene and improves light reflection, brightening the space.

• 🪨 A beautiful granite-topped serving counter that blends practical durability with sophisticated style, perfectly complementing the restaurant’s high-end decor.

🏆 Outcome: A Restaurant and Kitchen Honouring Babydoll’s Legacy

This project was about more than just technical execution — it was about creating a space that tells a story and provides guests with a unique, memorable dining experience. Babydoll’s Wood Fired Pizza now stands as a beloved feature of Port Lympne Reserve, delighting visitors with delicious food and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Over two years of operation have proven its success, with glowing reviews on TripAdvisor highlighting the perfect combination of ambience, food quality, and connection to conservation heritage.

📋 Delivered Services Summary

• 🗺️ Complete kitchen layout design and professional installation

• 🏗️ Structural flooring works tailored to heavy-duty equipment needs

• 🧽 Installation of hygienic wall cladding and metro tile finishes

• 🦶 Altro safety flooring installation for slip resistance and durability

• ✨ Suspended ceiling and integrated lighting system

• 🪨 Granite counter surfacing and full kitchen fit-out including prep and serving areas

📞 Contact Kent Commercial Kitchens for Your Next Project!

Ready to elevate your restaurant or commercial kitchen? Call us today on 01304 249963 for expert advice, tailored design solutions, and a free consultation. Our local team specialises in bespoke kitchen installations that blend style, function, and durability. ☎️

👉 Scroll down to explore the photo gallery showcasing this remarkable transformation. See how a heartfelt vision became a stunning reality! 📸