In response to the rising cost-of-living crisis and concerning child poverty rates in 2021, the Welsh government...
University Kitchens
At Airedale, we provide full turnkey design, build and maintenance services for university kitchens. Our university catering offering also includes interior design for campus dining and retail areas, creating attractive and highly desirable environments that inspire students and staff with pride in their institution.
As proud members of The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO), we are dedicated to the highest service standard. We work diligently with stakeholders in higher and further education facilities for design and installation that fully benefits the institution as a whole.
Whether you require a kitchen and dining space in a new campus building, a redesign of an older university kitchen, or maintenance works on a current university catering facility, we’re happy to help.
Contact us about your university kitchen.
University Kitchen Design
Our university kitchen design process focuses on effectiveness. We’ll consider the most efficient use of the square meterage available while also providing a kitchen space capable of providing the variety in meals your students expect.
University Cafeteria Design – Our Full Interior Design Package
Our university catering interior design offering extends beyond the kitchen into your dining and retail spaces, if you so wish. Working closely with university stakeholders, we obtain a full understanding of what’s needed from the space to inform designs.
We can create dynamic cafeterias that function as multipurpose event spaces, including durable and adaptable furniture, digital screens, and webcams. Our full interior design package also extends to upgrading branding and signage, along with working on walls and flooring.
Tech and Digital Signage
Multimedia, such as digital signage, vibrant menu screens, touchscreens, and more, transforms your university cafeteria into a more compelling space. For example, in our work with the University of East London, we installed vibrant LED signage in their Pump House venue for a visually striking and fun aesthetic.
University Kitchen Design and Build to Fit Your Campus Masterplan
Our design specialists integrate with your broader campus master planning, understanding the facilities you have available to gather a clear picture of what’s needed. We provide valuable insight and advice on effective space use, helping you avoid too many campus retail outlets and advising on optimal equipment placement to ultimately save you time and money.
We examine which catering areas require improvement and which should be reduced, providing a fresh, specialist perspective on your planning.
University Kitchen & Cafeteria Design for Your Students
In our kitchen projects and university cafeteria designs, the needs of your student community are always a key focus and guide our decision-making.
We understand that student communities are diverse and aim to provide facilities that work for as wide a variety of students as possible. University cafeteria seating is designed with different-sized groups in mind, including larger tables and spaces for those who prefer to sit alone, along with everything in between.
Our seating areas are attractive so that your students want to spend time there, ensuring the space isn’t wasted. They’re useful as meeting spaces and areas for collaboration and study, providing value outside of mealtimes.
We also help make design and retail spaces more accessible for SEN students by incorporating patternation and high-contrast surfaces for visually impaired individuals.
Attractive, Desirable University Cafeteria Design for Student Recruitment
We know that a visually appealing campus is a major driver in student recruitment, so we ensure that our cafeteria and front-of-house spaces look as inviting as possible for prospective students who may be touring on open days. Our spaces are beautiful and comfortable, attracting students into bustling social areas that display your thriving campus community.
University Kitchen & Cafeteria Design for Your Staff
In our design and build projects, we prioritise open and honest communication with stakeholders and staff regarding planning, time, procedures, and the unique needs of your building.
We optimise the positioning of equipment such as refrigerators, ovens and cleaning stations for maximum convenience to your workers. Equipment installed is also chosen for the highest effectiveness and versatility in use. In addition, we ensure that delivery areas and doorways are equipped to handle the ingredient deliveries and equipment you require.
At Airedale, we also have service and maintenance specialists who look at our university kitchen design and university catering equipment to provide guidance on the ongoing maintenance and servicing required to keep everything running at its best.
University Kitchen Service and Maintenance
Our full turnkey service means that after the initial design and build of your university kitchen, we’ll work with you to keep things running smoothly. This includes ventilation maintenance services, equipment repair, gas safety checks, and upgrading to fit with new technologies.
We’ll also implement planned preventative maintenance, reducing the likelihood of equipment breakdown, which could otherwise disrupt your operations. Our guide to the importance of planned preventative maintenance will cover this in more detail.
Proud Members of The University Caterers Organisation
At Airedale, we are proud to be members of The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO). This organisation focuses on enabling institutions to deliver the highest-quality catering services while ensuring profitability and/or cost reduction for themselves.
This includes monitoring supply chains, applying lessons learned from projects to others, and helping institutions share thoughts and ideas with a wider group. Benefits range from increased consumer usage to better operational procedures and reduced environmental impact.
Airedale is TUCO approved for both equipment supply and design and build services. To achieve this, we were subject to various background checks, including health and safety checks. We also had to submit four case studies for each offering, showing our range of skills, methods and capabilities.
This means that when working with Airedale and other TUCO members, you can rest assured that you will receive quality expertise and informed services. TUCO also requires reapplication every three years, so you can trust that members exhibit continuing excellence in the kitchen and catering industry.
Our blog on why you should choose a TUCO member for your university kitchen design and build can explain this in further detail.
University Kitchen & Cafeteria Case Studies
We have been delighted to work with a range of university caterers over the years. Including:
- New College Oxford
- University of London
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Derby
- Manchester University
- Manchester Metropolitan
If you need a specialist to design your university kitchen, build your campus kitchen facility, provide university cafeteria design and installation, or simply upgrade existing catering spaces at your university, reach out to us. We’ll be happy to discuss how we can meet your needs with our extensive university expertise.
Recent Case Studies
Try Market Halls West End (Holles Street)
The UK’s largest food hall/dining market with multiple bars, “market stores” and rooftop terrace Airedale’s specialist consultancy-led...
First of at least three Ruby hotels set to be opened in the next year Partnership with...
Sandycroft County Primary School
Design and installation of large primary school’s commercial kitchen. All fabrication including bespoke canopy and extraction system...
; The design of a commercial kitchen should focus on ensuring efficiency, compliance, and importantly, safety. In this new blog, we explore guidance and best practice when optimising kitchen design for food hygiene -
Latest News
Client Testimonials
“The work that Airedale undertook from planning to completion was professional throughout. We are extremely pleased with the finished kitchen and the work that was completed. Their Account Manager advised, planned and updated us throughout and we found the process ‘stress free’. The catering team at Sandycroft are delighted with their new kitchen and really pleased that they were able to have input into the design and needs of their service provision. We have already engaged with Airedale for future planned projects following this investment and look forward to continuing our partnership.”
Newydd Catering & Cleaning
“We found Airedale to be wholly professional and willing to engage with us from the onset, listening to our own concerns and addressing these in a timely manner. We are very pleased with the overall project.”
Local Council
“We were hugely impressed with the professional presentation made by Airedale, their project sales manager had clearly done his research prior to our initial meeting and had a number of detailed, thoughtful solutions to our particular challenges. All of their staff were conscientious and the complex project was delivered within the strict timescale and budget allocated.”
Parker's Garden Centre
“Airedale have a great can-do attitude, are willing to help and have a great understanding of their trade and working on Heritage sites, meaning that that they are good and prompt at problem solving.”
Main Contractor
“The team at Airedale provided a reassuring sense of professionalism within our development. Their holistic considered approach meant that aspects that would not necessarily fall within their remit were identified and where required resolved prior to any issue or delay arising. Their willingness to share their experience and knowledge allowed the project to be delivered to the standard which exceeded our expectation.”
Langdale Estate and Spa
“Since the restaurant has opened there has been an increase in the staff footfall, with the well designed layout coupled with the use of the latest technology keeping queues down to a minimum. The whole installation despite its complexity was relatively pain free with the communication between Airedale’s Project Manager and ourselves being a key factor.”
Advanced Engineering Centre
“Our new catering facilities are second to none. As a primary provider of professional chef qualifications within the South West it was imperative to have a design which enabled excellent quality teaching and training. As a catering team we are extremely pleased with the final results; with the excellent support of Airedale it has enabled us to ensure first rate delivery of teaching in a first rate environment and will no doubt continue to aspire future chefs in future years.”
Petroc College, Barnstaple
“The Airedale Group were appointed because of their depth of knowledge and experience in delivering similar schemes. Their staff were very professional and on-hand to answer any queries we had whilst our Chef’s have commented that it is one of the best designed kitchens they have worked in.”
Acklam Hall
“We were continually impressed with Airedale’s performance on this scheme. They assisted us with value engineering options throughout the tender process; were very competitive commercially and managed the on-site works seamlessly. Further, following practical completion they have attended to the operator’s queries very quickly and held themselves professionally whilst working in a live hotel environment. ”
Main Contractor
BIM at Airedale
BIM at Airedale BIM (Building Information Modelling) is revolutionising construction and maintenance across the UK, and the commercial kitchen industry is no exception. Allowing for greater collaboration, data sharing...
Read More
