Caltel deliver Michelin Guide Docket’s
dream “wow factor” kitchen with no downtime
Nestled in the heart of the Whitchurch (Shropshire), Michelin Guide restaurant, Docket, has well and truly put the picturesque market-town on the fine-dining map since opening its doors in 2017. Born and nurtured by the ambitions and impressive careers of husband-and-wife duo Stuart and Frances Collins, Docket offers an intimate and elegant dining style, with flavour-packed tasting dishes, contemporary drinks and knowledgeable service which goes hand-in-hand for a unified experience.
Like any restaurant, the kitchen is the heart and soul of the operation. However, after 7 years of serving the Docket, plus the number of years being operated by the site’s previous owner, the time had come to invest in Stuart and Frances’ dream kitchen, as detailed by Stuart himself:
“After 7 years of using the kitchen that we had inherited from the previous operation, we decided it was time to invest in a new kitchen for Docket and our ambitions were high. In a nutshell, we wanted to create an open plan kitchen in an entirely new part of our site with minimal downtime. The space that we wanted to use for the new kitchen was also fairly restricted in terms of footprint, but we still wanted an open-plan working space that felt generous, logical for our chefs, and visually impressive."
Having worked with Caltel previously on a few outside catering opportunities, Stuart felt confident that Shropshire based equipment dealer would be able to design and deliver this project despite these challenges. This is something that Caltel’s Project Manager, Jonathan Davies, reflects on:
“At Caltel, we make it our mission to listen and engage with the unique requirements of
our customers early on. We feel this is key for both setting expectations and delivering results. Not every customer is the same, so truly understanding what a customer’s best fit is, is essential. For Docket, sustainability, timescale, space, aesthetics and efficiency were key priorities that shaped both how we managed this project, and what products we integrated into the proposal.”
This is something that Stuart identifies as being highly valuable as a proprietor:
“As part of the consultation process, Caltel proposed several brands to work within our budget and helped create the workspace we wanted, whilst considering all practicalities required alongside ensuring the kitchen was visually striking. The 3D design that Caltel created for us really brought the kitchen to life too. When you are making as big as an investment as this, it’s always good to have extra reassurance that what is being planned is right, and the design provided really cemented this.”
To put the timescale of this project into perspective, from the first consultation and design through to delivery and installation, Caltel completed this in just 5 weeks. During this time, Docket were able to remain open thanks to Caltel’s ability to complete the installation in the new kitchen space ahead of opening hours. This allowed for a seamless switch from Docket’s old kitchen, to new.
Jonathan goes on to talk about the highlights of this project:
“The most rewarding aspect of this project was delivering a kitchen that benefited all parties. Anyone that visits Docket will see that the kitchen staff are genuinely enjoying working in the new kitchen, which itself is testimony to the staff-led prioritised that shaped the proposal for this kitchen, such as better work-flow, lower sound and heat levels. To add to this, recommending solutions from esteemed brands that chefs ultimately want to work with, is a big morale boost.”
The brands that were involved in this project included Control Induction (Island Cook Suite and Appliances) Retigo (Combi Oven), Inox (Extraction) Parry (Custom Fabrication and Basins) and Sterling Pro (Refrigeration). These solutions work perfectly in harmony at Docket, and thanks to Caltel’s knowledge and configuration, exceeded Stuart and Fran’s expectations for their new kitchen.
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Co-Owner, Frances, goes on to talk about the impression the kitchen has made since installation:
"Due to the way Docket is laid out, most customers will walk past the working kitchen during their visit, with the wow-factor often stopping them in their tracks. Thanks to Caltel’s design, we can also now offer guests a seat at the chefs table, meaning they are in the heart of the action and positioned with the best view of the kitchen that we are so proud of.”
Fran continues:
“To work with a dealer that genuinely cared about the project to the same level as us was really important. It really felt like Jonathan and Ross became an extension of the Docket team while working on this project.”
Stuart shares in Fran’s enthusiasm:
“The service we’ve received from the entire Caltel team has been brilliant, from initial design proposal through to the final install. As part of the consultation process, Jonathan proposed several brands to work within our budget, and helped create the workspace we wanted, whilst considering all practicalities required alongside ensuring the kitchen was visually striking.”
An established family run business with national reach, Caltel is dedicated to supplying top quality products at the lowest prices possible. With a dedicated engineering team on-hand, and an in-house design service, Caltel is the equipment dealer of choice for many in the Shropshire area and beyond.
Frances concludes with a shining review of Caltel:
“We would definitely recommend Caltel to other restaurants in need of a new kitchen. They basically achieved the near impossible by allowing us to keep our restaurant open with minimal down-time which is crucial for a business.”
To watch the full case study, please visit Docket restuarant | Caltel Catering
For more information on Caltel, please visit caltel.co.uk @caltelcateringequip
For more information on Docket, please visit docketrestaurant.co.uk @docket_restaurant
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Issued on behalf of Caltel Catering Equipment by:
Rawlingson Lane
Ford brook Business Centre,
Marlborough Road,
Pewsey, Wiltshire,
SN9 5NU
Tel: 01672 564099 / Twitter: @RawlingsonLane