Yeda

Transform an existing bakery and cafe into a fully Vegan restaurant and take away.

The Landlord had to carry out various works to the property to bring it up to a stage where we could begin the fit-out and, as we were installing a commercial kitchen, extract and power supply were concerns. We negotiated that the Landlord would contribute an amount so we could include a Reco-Air system in the build otherwise the space just would not work, as well as upgrading the incoming electrical supply from 100A 3-phase to 200A. As this was the first of a new concept budget was tight so heavy negotiation was carried out even after the tender stage to ensure we hit the budget. The additional challenge of the restaurant being 100% vegan was also an additional important factor that had to be taken into consideration.

We engaged an M&E consultant to assist in the design of the general ventilation, extract, kitchen extract and AC requirements to ensure it all worked alongside the use of the Reco-Air installation. This meant that all potential issues were cleared at the design stage ensuring time on site was kept to a minimum which was important in such a tight workspace. The reality of it being a vegan restaurant meant that some basic materials could not be used so, in working closely with the Client and Design team, we ensured all parts of the build stood up to the scrutiny required to ensure the venue's principles were adhered to. We also worked closely with the Client's catering and business consultant, which was vital to ensure all parts of the machine would work together once trading.

A beautiful space with a very honest finish which enhanced the existing details and transformed them into a very pleasant location indeed. In using existing materials, and concentrating on only bringing in authentic additional items to enhance the project, we were able to not only retain the Victorian character but also maintain a very strict budget by being very imaginative with what we already had.