Mareno Suite Enhances Efficiency and Quality at The Falcon Hotel, Castle Ashby

Having worked with the likes of Marcus Wareing, Eric Chavot and Daniel Clifford, it’s safe to assume that Head Chef Russell Bateman, has worked on some very good cook suites, which is why we were delighted when he chose MARENO for the recent kitchen refurbishment at The Falcon Hotel, Castle Ashby.

In a bid to optimise the kitchen operation and elevate the dining experience, Russell embarked on a transformative project with Court Catering and Grande Cuisine that centred on the installation of a Mareno cook suite, with a one-piece fully welded top, from the Star 110 range.

‘The primary project objectives were to improve kitchen efficiency, maximise space utilisation, enable simultaneous cooking for two restaurants, and eliminate gas usage, whilst ensuring that the new suite remained within the footprint of the current extract canopy,’ says Russell.

Several challenges loomed over the project, including budget constraints, limited space and, as mentioned, the need to work within the existing canopy footprint. Additionally, the presence of wooden flooring required careful handling. The team at Court Catering managed to address all of these through meticulous planning and expert execution, to ensure that the project remained on track.

At the heart of the new kitchen is a MARENO Star 110 cook suite which includes a twin well fryer, 4 zone MARENO plaque (designed for both pan and direct cooking), and a 4 zone induction unit.

‘The completed project has resulted in a multitude of improvements,’ says Russell. ‘These include enhanced kitchen flow, a cooler working environment, improved guest and chef experience, greater cooking consistency, better utilisation of the overall space, a more environmentally friendly operation, improved energy efficiency, reduced cleaning time, and less of a reliance on cleaning chemicals. And the whole thing looks stunning too of course!’

‘We chose MARENO equipment for two main reasons. Firstly, I have a long and trusted relationship with Steve Hobbs at Grande Cuisine, and I knew he would provide invaluable advice and recommendations. And secondly, the specific criteria of energy efficiency, build quality, and reliability aligned perfectly with MARENO.

Steve and the Grande Cuisine team played pivotal a role throughout the project. In the pre-installation phase, they demonstrated extensive knowledge and offered valuable insights. During installation, they proved to be proactive, efficient, and professional, ensuring a smooth transition. Post-installation, their accessibility, responsiveness, and commitment to addressing any concerns or issues reinforced our confidence in the partnership.

The successful implementation of MARENO cooking equipment not only met, but exceeded, the project’s objectives. It has ushered in a new era of efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction for our culinary operations. The collaboration between us, Court Catering, Steve and his Grande Cuisine team stands as a testament to the power of trusted partnerships and meticulous planning.