ROYAL AIR FORCE
YACHT CLUB
The Royal Air Force Yacht Club (RAFYC) is a private yacht club located in Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire, England. It was originally established in 1938 as the RAF Hamble Yacht Club, primarily for the benefit of serving and retired members of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The club provides facilities for sailing and social activities for its members, who include both military and the general public. The RAFYC promotes sailing and yachting among its members and hosts various events and regattas throughout the year.
OUR WORK
Vision Commercial Kitchens were tasked with the design, supply and install to transform the existing kitchen at the yacht club. It was mandatory that the kitchen did not only align with food safety measures, but was operational to the extent of meeting increase demands and facilitate the introduction of an enhanced menu. The client also specified the need for ease of cleaning and maintenance, all within the framework of an all-electric, energy efficient kitchen.
Our service included the removal and disposal of the existing kitchen and dishwashing facilities, complete management of mechanical and electrical services, installation of new walls and floors and implementation of an upgraded extraction system, to meet all current legistration.
In response to the client's preference for an all-electric kitchen, we replaced the gas hob and fryer with an induction and electric fryer, while also upgrading the electrical consumer unit to accommodate higher power requirements. Additionally, we incorporated a rise and fall salamander grill into the design to meet the client's design criteria and specific operational needs in the most efficient manner.
DESIGN
The main challenges faced during the design process was accommodating a site with complicated pipework. As this was an old building, there was a lot of exposed pipework, necessitating a removal, reroute and reclad. Furthermore, the ductwork route had to conform to the constraints of low extraction height, leading to modifications in the canopy design and placement of fans. Despite these challenges, the final design successfully delivered a kitchen that fulfilled both the legal requirements and the client's aesthetic preferences. This presented an operationally efficient kitchen, all while adhering to the agreed budget and strict adherence to timeframe.
INSTALLATION
Due to the size and location of the building, deliveries needed careful coordination to overcome restricted access, preventing large lorries from reaching the site. Nevertheless, the project installation proceeded smoothly, facilitated by Vision's excellent rapport with both the client and contractors, ensuring a seamless collaboration.
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