Maison Dieu
Who we worked with:
Dover District Council
Location:
Dover, Kent
Build Time
8 weeks
Services provided
- Banqueting kitchen design & build
- Service kitchen design & build
- Bar design & build
- Walk in cold & freezer rooms
- Cellar cooling
- Bar equipment
- Supply and installation of catering appliances
Key brands used
- Rational combi ovens
- Falcon cooking equipment
- Foster blast chiller, bottle fridges & refrigeration
- Maidaid rack conveyor dishwasher
- Scotsman ice machine
- Hobart glasswasher
- JE Hall refrigeration
More about this project
🏛️ Dover Maison Dieu – Commercial Kitchen & Bar Design for Historic Landmark
Client: Dover District Council
Location: Dover, Kent
Project Type: Banqueting Kitchen Design & Build | Service Kitchen | Bar Installation
Sector: Heritage | Events | Public Sector | Hospitality
🔨 A Major Milestone in Our Hometown
Town Hall Banqueting Kitchen – We were incredibly proud to partner once again with Dover District Council on a truly historic and prestigious project—delivering the commercial kitchen and bar infrastructure as part of the £10.5 million restoration of Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall)
With many of our staff having grown up in the town, this project had a personal significance and allowed us to contribute to the heart of our local community.
Following a rigorous competitive tender process, we were honoured to be awarded the contract and entrusted with designing and building hospitality facilities in one of Kent’s most iconic heritage buildings.
🏗️ Part of a Landmark Restoration Project
This exceptional project was made possible in part by a £4.27 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and aimed to breathe new life into the Grade-I listed building—unlocking its full potential as a year-round heritage, events, and community venue.
Maison Dieu reopened to the public on 10 May 2025 and now includes:
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Restored original neo-Gothic decorative schemes by architect William Burges (1827–1881)
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A new street-level visitor entrance to the Connaught Hall
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Enhanced accessibility throughout the building
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New commercial uses, including a holiday let in the Mayor’s Parlour via The Landmark Trust
👉 For the first time in over 800 years, Maison Dieu is now permanently open to the public.
👷 Our Brief: State-of-the-Art Hospitality in a Historic Setting
We were appointed to design, supply, and install a suite of professional hospitality facilities tailored to the needs of a multi-purpose venue. Our remit included:
🔹 Basement Banqueting Kitchen
A large-scale kitchen to serve high-capacity events such as weddings, banquets, and public functions.
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Custom kitchen layout and workflow planning
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Commercial-grade catering appliances
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Bioclad hygienic wall cladding and Altro flooring
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Walk-in cold room and freezer room installation
- Town Hall Banqueting Kitchen
🔹 First-Floor Service Kitchen
A secondary food prep and service space designed to support flexible event use across multiple floors.
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Compact layout optimised for quick service
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Full electrical and plumbing installation
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Stainless steel fabrication for hygiene and durability
- Town Hall Banqueting Kitchen
🔹 Connaught Hall Bar Area
A visually appealing and high-performance bar to serve guests at the main events space.
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Bespoke bar furniture and under-counter refrigeration
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Cellar cooling system
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Supply and install of all bar service equipment and dispensers
🧊 Refrigeration, Cellar Cooling & Appliances
To support food safety and service efficiency, we also delivered:
✅ Walk-in chiller and freezer room installations
✅ Cellar cooling for drinks storage and bar service
✅ Full supply and installation of professional-grade cooking, refrigeration, and warewashing appliances as part opf the Town Hall Banqueting Kitchen development.
🎉 A New Era for a Historic Venue
The completed kitchen and bar installations at Maison Dieu play a vital role in enabling the venue to cater for a wide range of heritage, corporate, and community events—all while preserving the historic fabric and character of the building.
It was a privilege to contribute to such a meaningful restoration project and to help set the stage for a new chapter in Dover’s cultural life.
📞 Interested in a heritage-sensitive kitchen fit-out or commercial bar design? Call us on 01304 249963
⬇️ Scroll down to see project photos and behind-the-scenes shots of this iconic build!