The largest sports stadia project being installed in the UK in 2013.
Allianz Park promotes itself as ‘Not just the home of Saracens Rugby Club.’
The 10,000-seater venue also serves as an athletics stadium and has been given a major makeover to create what has been termed a ‘genuine community stadium’.
Garners Food Service Equipment managed the catering equipment design and installation and Tim Fisher, Managing Director explained that, like many new build stadia, commercial pressures seek to maximise a venue’s earning potential outside of match days themselves.
Now Allianz Park also heavily promotes itself for conferences, meetings and weddings, supported with the new addition of a central production kitchen, four satellite kitchens (including one kosher kitchen), a public concourse servery and a public concourse bar.
Positioned in beautiful green surroundings in NW4, North London, the new state of the art stadium is built to BREEAM Excellent standards, which recognises best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation; and in particular, it encourages minimising energy demands.
The main production kitchen is based on the ground floor of the main stand, while two satellite kitchens feed three different areas — the Fez Club, Tulip Club and Hundred Club dining areas. The satellites and the separate kosher kitchen are all located on the first floor. The second floor includes another satellite serving executive hospitality areas and player’s lounge.
Each of three banqueting areas can accommodate up to 400 people at a time depending on the event, with adjustable screens allowing the floor space to be increased or decreased to suit the occasion.
Meiko’s ECO 545 pass through dishwashers were selected for two of the first floor regeneration kitchens serving the banqueting areas and another was installed in the third floor hospitality satellite, serving up to 300 covers in the player’s lounge and 250-300 in the 16 executive boxes.
Installed into dedicated wash bays with sinks, pre-washes, storage for clean racks and with substantial space allocated for soiled ware, the dishwashers were selected to provide a core washing capability.
“Because so much of the catering is function based,” explained Fisher, “achieving top-end numbers will be rare; and for substantial functions tableware will be hired in as required. The ECO545 dishwashers provide the flexibility we needed to cater for varying numbers on a day to day basis efficiently.”
Meiko UK Limited, 393 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4UF
Email: MeikoUK@meiko-uk.co.uk
Tel. +44 1753 215120
Website: www.meiko-uk.co.uk
H&C News recently met with Meiko’s Nick Falco to get a better understanding of the business and the full interview can be seen here