No good pub, bar or hotel these days can do without a good kitchen. From five-star luxury hotels with Michelin-starred restaurants and high street tapas bars to the low-end bed and breakfast or Sunday Lunch pub – people want to eat when they’re out and about.
If some type of food is not provided, customers may choose to spend their money elsewhere in more flexible and versatile establishments, so catering should be considered as important as the other services of the modern drinking or hotel establishment.
Making sure the kitchen is well-equipped is also essential, as service will soon be blocked and customers will be dissatisfied if staff are not provided with adequate cooking and preparation equipment.
Choosing the right kitchen and catering equipment for your bar or hotel is like choosing other bar equipment. You need to make sure you have the right equipment and not spend money on superfluous gadgets or fancy accessories that will do little to improve the service or food you offer.
However, there are some essential gadgets that every good British pub or bed and breakfast kitchen should have:
Kitchen knives and cutting boards. The most essential item for any chef or cook is a set of knives. Good quality knives are essential and should be made of stainless steel for easy cleaning. Knives should always be kept sharp, and as for cutting boards, they should also be easy to clean, and you’ll need more than one; Separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables are a hygiene requirement.
A deep fryer is essential to a British kitchen. Chips are one of the most popular items on a British menu and not serving them will turn away many of your customers.
You will also need to ensure that your staff are properly dressed, so all hair must be in nets or under hats and aprons, and white clothing must be provided for everyone working in the kitchen, as well as clear instructions on the hand washing and other health and hygiene problems.