Designing & Planning
We provide expert commercial kitchen design and planning services tailored to the operational, spatial, and compliance requirements of modern food service environments. From initial concept through to fully coordinated layouts, we design kitchens that maximise efficiency, workflow, and long-term performance.
Our team works across a wide range of sectors — including restaurants, theatres, dark kitchens, mobile units, and pop-up concepts — delivering fully compliant front-of-house and back-of-house planning that supports smooth operations, staff safety, and future growth. Every design is developed with equipment integration, ventilation strategy, utilities coordination, and regulatory standards in mind.
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Our design and planning services include:
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Commercial Kitchen Design & Planning Services
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Frequently Asked Questions
Design & Planning - From concept to compliant kitchen layouts.
What does your Design & Planning service cover?
Our Design & Planning services cover the early stages of a commercial kitchen project, including layout design, workflow planning, compliance-led design, and concept development. This stage ensures kitchens are practical, efficient, and ready for installation.
Which types of kitchens do you design and plan?
We design and plan a wide range of catering environments, including:
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Complete turnkey commercial kitchens
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Restaurants, cafés, and bars
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Theatre and open kitchens
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Dark and delivery-only kitchens
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Food trucks and mobile kitchens
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Pop-up and temporary kitchens
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Front of House (FOH) and Back of House (BOH) areas
What is included in a complete turnkey kitchen design?
Turnkey kitchen design includes concept development, layout planning, equipment positioning, workflow optimisation, and compliance considerations—forming the foundation for a fully coordinated installation.
Do you design commercial kitchens from scratch?
Yes. We regularly design kitchens for new premises, shell units, and first-time operators, starting from a blank space and developing a fully workable kitchen layout.
Can you redesign or improve an existing kitchen layout?
Yes. Existing kitchens can be re-planned to improve efficiency, safety, capacity, or compliance—often without needing a full rebuild.
How does design improve kitchen efficiency?
Good design reduces unnecessary movement, prevents bottlenecks, improves safety, and ensures equipment placement supports real service conditions rather than just fitting the space.
Do you design kitchens around a specific menu or service style?
Yes. Kitchen layouts are planned around how the kitchen will actually operate—including menu type, service volume, staffing levels, and peak demand periods.
What is the difference between Front of House and Back of House planning?
Front of House planning focuses on customer-facing areas such as service counters, bars, coffee stations, and open kitchens.
Back of House planning focuses on prep areas, cooklines, wash-up, storage, plant spaces, and staff workflows.
Do you design Front of House and Back of House together?
Yes. FOH and BOH are planned together to ensure smooth service flow, clear separation where required, and efficient interaction between customer-facing and operational areas.
What is theatre kitchen design?
Theatre kitchens are designed for live or open cooking environments. Planning considers visibility, safety, heat management, noise, workflow, and customer experience.
Are theatre kitchens suitable for all cuisines?
Not always. Theatre kitchens work best when planned around suitable equipment, cooking methods, and service styles. We assess this during the design stage.
Do you design dark kitchens and delivery-only kitchens?
Yes. Dark kitchens are designed to maximise output, efficiency, and scalability while maintaining compliance and safe working conditions.
Can you design food trucks and mobile kitchens?
Yes. We design food trucks, trailers, and mobile kitchens with careful consideration of space constraints, power, ventilation, and workflow.
Can food truck kitchens run off-grid?
Yes. Mobile kitchens can be designed for off-grid operation using gas, generators, solar, and battery systems where appropriate.
Do you design pop-up kitchens and temporary setups?
Yes. Pop-up kitchens are designed to be flexible, compliant, and quick to deploy while still supporting safe and efficient operation.
Do you consider compliance during the design stage?
Yes. Compliance is built into the design stage to avoid costly changes later. Layouts are planned with ventilation, safety systems, and service requirements in mind.
Can design be done before committing to installation?
Yes. Design and planning can be carried out as a standalone service before installation decisions are made.
Will you work with architects, landlords, and project managers?
Yes. We collaborate closely with architects, landlords, consultants, and project teams to ensure designs align with the wider building and project requirements.
Can you design kitchens to reuse existing equipment?
Yes. Where suitable, layouts can be designed to reuse existing equipment, helping control costs and reduce waste.
How long does the design and planning stage take?
Timescales vary depending on project complexity. Simple layouts can be developed quickly, while complex or multi-kitchen projects require more detailed planning.
How do I start a design and planning project?
The first step is a consultation or site survey. This allows us to understand your space, goals, and operational needs before developing a design.
What areas do you cover for design and planning services?
Design and planning services are available across London, Essex, and inside and around the M25, supporting both local and multi-site projects.
Why start with professional kitchen design and planning?
Strong design reduces risk, improves efficiency, supports compliance, and saves time and cost during installation—setting the foundation for a successful commercial kitchen.