The original staff food offering at the Gatwick North Terminal comprised a small coffee and snack bar in the main thoroughfare, and the airport management wanted to emulate the much larger offering and service they had at Gatwick South.
In conjunction with the contract caterer CH&Co, the interior designer, the M&E consultants, the Architects and Gatwick Airport’s project management team, Space created the new staff food service facility for the North terminal to rival that of the South.
Because the catering facility has to offer a 24 hour operation to the ground staff, cabin staff and management passing through the North Terminal , the brief was to provide a food service operation, that was quick and efficient, but also flexible enough that the coffee/deli offer could be opened in isolation in quieter periods.
Space worked closely with the interior designer, EV Creative Studios, to produce a retail-style food court that looks great, maximises the use of staff, and allows a quick through-put of customers.
The final design comprised a beautifully finished, free-flowing servery counter; an open plan theatre-style cookline, so customers can view the cooking operation in action; grab and go, and snack sections; as well as a small wash-up area to support the whole operation.
The kitchen was equipped with Rational combi ovens, a Frima vario cooking unit, Adande counter fridges and Gram back of house refrigeration. In addition, an external cold/freezer/dry store room made up of insulated modular panels formed a cost-effective extension to the main building, supplying additional workspace without impinging on the existing kitchen area, where space was very limited.
The whole scheme was handed over on time and well within budget.
“It was a pleasure working with Space to deliver Gatwick’s North Terminal staff restaurant. Flexibility and great communication are traits demonstrated by Space, and key elements of the success of this project.”
Elizabeth Valkovics, EV Creative Studios