The Big Cat Sanctuary

Who we worked with:

The Big Cat Sanctuary

Location:

Smarden, Kent

Build Time

1 week

Services provided

Walk In cold room and freezer room installation
Supply of wire racking
Slip resistant flooring for cold room

Key brands used

Altro stronghold slip resistant vinyl flooring
EAIS nylon coated wire racking
Bespoke cold room and freezer room panels
JE Hall evaporators and condensers

More about this project

🐾 Cold Room & Freezer Installation – The Big Cat Sanctuary, Kent

Supporting Wildlife Conservation with Specialist Refrigeration Solutions ❄️🦁

🌍 A Centre of Excellence for Endangered Species

Set in the heart of Smarden, Kent, The Big Cat Sanctuary is a world-renowned facility dedicated to the conservation, care, and breeding of some of the planet’s most endangered big cat species. Their mission? To protect wildlife, educate the public, and contribute to global breeding and research programmes aimed at preventing extinction.

Following our successful work at their sister site in Herefordshire, we were honoured to be invited to support their latest development—a brand-new Centre of Excellence that demanded specialist infrastructure, including high-performance cold storage.

📦 The Brief: Cold Storage Tailored for Animal Welfare

To meet the needs of their expanding conservation centre, the client required two large-capacity, walk-in cold storage units:

✅ 6m x 6m Walk-In Chiller
✅ 6m x 8m Walk-In Freezer

These cold rooms are crucial for safely storing specialist food supplies for over 50 rare big cats, each with specific dietary needs—from snow leopards to tigers and everything in between.

This was a new build project, so we collaborated closely with the construction team from an early stage to ensure seamless integration into the wider facility design.

🛠️ Our Scope of Work: Precision Installation from Start to Finish

Our refrigeration experts provided a turnkey service, managing every element of the project with care and precision:

🧱 1. Cold Room & Freezer Construction

Full panel construction of both chiller and freezer rooms
Use of high-performance insulated panels for superior energy efficiency and consistent temperature control
Design compliant with strict hygiene and animal welfare standards

🚪 2. Specialist Flooring Installation

Fitted slip-resistant commercial-grade vinyl flooring in the cold room
Flooring selected for its durability, hygiene, and ease of cleaning—essential in an environment focused on safety and animal care

🔧 3. Refrigeration Systems & Commissioning

Installed all refrigeration pipework, controls, and electrical connections
Used reliable, low-maintenance components to ensure long-term efficiency
Performed full system commissioning and performance testing to guarantee optimal operation from day one

🐅 Outcome: Cold Storage That Supports a Critical Conservation Mission

Our work now helps the team at The Big Cat Sanctuary store and manage vital food stocks safely, ensuring the health and wellbeing of some of the world’s most at-risk big cats. With reliable cold chain infrastructure in place, the sanctuary can continue its mission to protect these incredible animals.

“It’s not just about cold storage—it’s about ensuring the wellbeing of some of the world’s most endangered species. Our installation plays a small but vital part in their daily care and conservation efforts.”