Royal Air Force Yacht Club
CLIENT:
Royal Air Force Yacht Club
PROJECT LOCATION:
Southampton | "South East"
PROJECT VALUE:
N/A
ARCHITECT:
N/A
PROJECT MANAGER:
N/A
CONTRACTOR
N/A
The Royal Air Force Yacht Club in Hamble-le-Rice (Southampton | South East) commissioned Vision Commercial Kitchens to transform its back-of-house. We provided a turnkey, all-electric, energy-efficient kitchen—covering design, supply, installation and full M&E coordination—so the Club could meet rising demand and support an enhanced menu.
Brief: modern, hygienic and electric-first
RAFYC needed a complete refresh to boost throughput and simplify cleaning while moving away from gas. The brief called for a fully wipe-downable environment (floor to ceiling), a logical workflow and re-use of suitable equipment where possible. Vision’s scope covered removal and disposal of the old kitchen and dishwash area, upgraded extraction to current legislation, new walls and floors, and the transition to an all-electric, energy-efficient line to support a broader menu.
Design challenges & solutions
Working in an older building brought constraints: exposed and complicated pipework, varying ceiling levels and low extraction height. Vision removed, rerouted and reclad legacy services, introduced a suspended ceiling where required, and redesigned canopy and fan placements around structural lintels. We replaced gas with induction and an electric fryer, added a rise-and-fall salamander, and upgraded the electrical consumer/distribution board to handle higher loads: delivering compliance, efficiency and a cooler kitchen.
Turnkey delivery & logistics
With Vision acting as sole contractor, design updates and approvals were streamlined. Quayside access and a village one-way system restricted deliveries, so we sequenced drops (including early delivery of the ventilation set while the space was a shell), arranged temporary road controls and matched logistics to installation phases. Responsible disposal and recycling managed the strip-out; proposed re-use was reviewed but not adopted due to condition and CO2 targets.
Handover, training & outcome
A daily on-site Project Manager kept stakeholders aligned and the programme moving; the installation completed ahead of schedule. Handover included a detailed walkthrough against as-built drawings and manufacturer training on key equipment (notably the dishwasher). The result is a hygienic, efficient, all-electric kitchen that’s easier to clean, supports increased demand and enables a more ambitious menu—without exceeding budget or timeline.
Testimonial
“Vision Commercial Kitchens were responsible for the kitchen upgrade at the Royal Air Force Yacht Club. From start to finish, the Vision team displayed professionalism, innovation, and exceptional skill. They took time to understand our needs and provided us with an all-electric, energy efficient kitchen, surpassing our expectations. This has added great value to the yacht club and allows us to meet rising food demands and enhance our menu. Based on our experience with Vision, I can confidently say that we would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking to install a commercial kitchen." — John Watts, Rear Commodore Premises
