Additional cold storage without compromising the customer experience
When a busy gastro pub needed to increase its refrigerated storage capacity, simply placing a standard cold store outside the premises wasn’t the right solution.
The additional storage needed to be practical, reliable and easily accessible for staff, but there was another important consideration: appearance.
With the cold store positioned in a customer-facing environment, the client wanted a solution that complemented the existing property rather than looking like an industrial refrigeration unit had simply been added to the site.
Coolworld developed a bespoke cold storage solution that delivered the additional capacity the business required while ensuring the unit fitted naturally into its surroundings.
The Challenge
Increasing demand meant the gastro pub required more refrigerated storage space to support its day-to-day operation.
Installing additional permanent refrigeration inside the existing building would have required valuable internal space and potentially disruptive building works. An external cold store offered a much more flexible alternative, but a conventional unit would have been visually out of keeping with the property.
The client therefore needed a solution that could provide additional chilled storage while meeting several important operational and aesthetic requirements.
Key requirements
The solution needed to provide:
- Additional refrigerated product storage
- A finish that blended with the existing property
- Convenient access for kitchen and operational staff
- A straightforward external installation
- Reliable temperature-controlled storage
- Operation using the available single-phase electrical supply
- Minimal disruption to the day-to-day running of the venue
For Coolworld, the challenge was not simply supplying additional refrigeration capacity. The equipment had to become a practical extension of the customer's existing operation while remaining sympathetic to the appearance of the site.
The Solution
Rather than supplying a standard external cold store, Coolworld developed a more tailored solution around the customer's location and requirements.
A high-quality cold storage unit provided the additional refrigerated capacity, while the exterior was given a bespoke wood-effect finish designed to complement the surrounding property.
This transformed the appearance of the unit and allowed it to sit much more naturally alongside the existing building.
The solution also incorporated an easy-open access door, helping staff move products in and out of the cold store efficiently throughout daily service.
With only single-phase power available at the installation location, the refrigeration specification was selected to work with the site's existing electrical infrastructure, avoiding the need for unnecessary alterations to the power supply.
The result was a cold storage solution designed around the site rather than expecting the site to adapt around the equipment.
Designed Around the Customer
Temporary and supplementary cold storage is often about more than simply achieving the required temperature.
Location, access, available power, workflow and the environment surrounding the equipment can all influence the final design.
For hospitality businesses in particular, equipment may need to be positioned close to kitchens, service areas or spaces visible to customers. In those situations, the physical appearance and accessibility of the installation can be just as important as the refrigeration performance itself.
By taking these requirements into account from the beginning, Coolworld was able to provide a solution that delivered the additional capacity required without negatively affecting the appearance or operation of the venue.
Installation and Commissioning
Once the specification had been agreed, the cold store was delivered to site and positioned in the required location.
Coolworld engineers then completed the installation and commissioning of the refrigeration equipment, ensuring the cold store was ready to support the customer's operation.
Because the solution had been planned around the site's available infrastructure, the unit could operate using the existing single-phase electrical supply.
The bespoke exterior finish completed the installation, helping the cold store integrate visually with its surroundings.
The Result
The gastro pub gained the additional refrigerated storage capacity it needed without sacrificing valuable internal space or compromising the appearance of the property.
The finished solution provided:
- Increased cold storage capacity to support the growing operation
- Convenient access for staff during everyday use
- A bespoke wood-effect exterior that complemented the existing property
- A solution compatible with the site's available power supply
- Minimal impact on the existing building
- A professionally installed and commissioned refrigeration solution
Rather than becoming an obvious piece of industrial equipment positioned outside the premises, the cold store became a discreet and practical extension of the customer's existing facilities.
Flexible Cold Storage for Hospitality
Hospitality businesses can experience changing refrigeration requirements for many reasons, from seasonal demand and business growth to refurbishment, events or unexpected equipment issues.
Flexible cold storage can provide additional capacity without immediately committing to a permanent extension or major changes to an existing building.
Coolworld works with customers to understand not only the required storage capacity and temperature, but also how the equipment needs to work within the wider operation.
That can include access, available utilities, site restrictions, installation location and, as this project demonstrates, even the appearance of the finished solution
