When the time came to refresh these hard-working facilities, Nationwide and its contract caterers decided to create a fresh, new eatery with an appealing layout which would be perfectly in tune with the rest of the modern look and feel of its Swindon HQ. They brought in Space for the task.
The brief was to bring Nationwide’s existing eatery right up to date and create a retail environment that would appeal to the head office employees, whether they pop in for coffee or take a break over lunch. The new facility had to be welcoming and comfortable as well as easy and practical to use.
The restaurant redevelopment wasn’t the only challenge involved, though; all the existing facilities had to be painstakingly fork-lifted out while the restaurant was out of action for just seven short days. Precise co-ordination of the work was crucial and Space worked with local shop fitters to manage the fixtures and fittings onsite.
Space came up with an inspiring modern design using neutral colours contrasting with black granite worktops. Counter units feature bamboo style finishes inlaid with smart stainless steel strips. Diners can visit a wealth of different counters offering everything from freshly cooked pasta and jacket potatoes to grills and hot dishes of the day. There’s a wok station where you can choose meat and veg and have them freshly cooked for you – a brilliant touch of theatre – and multi-tiered grab & go sections filled with freshly made sandwiches and baguettes.
Space even made a feature out of a large column in the middle of the room, building a bespoke circular soup bar with a mouthwatering selection of piping hot soups and accompaniments, and sited salad, breakfast and fruit bars nearby. It all adds up to a bright, fresh and very tempting offer.
“Bringing in new features like the inspired wok and pasta cooking stations has helped us create a fresher, tailored menu which means we have streamlined the complete catering operation,” says Stuart Le Brun, Group Manager. “We’ve also come up with an offer which more closely matches what people want to eat, when they want to eat it, in a place they like being. Space brought our vision to life and exceeded our expectations – and in such a tight time-frame, too.”