Kerb, Thomas Neals Yard Kerb, Thomas Neals Yard
Kerb, Thomas Neals Yard

Food Hall Fit-Out

  • Client
    Kerb
  • Contract Value
    £3.2m
  • Project Manager
    Lavingtons LLP
  • Architect
    Stiff and Trevillion
  • Programme
    18 weeks
  • Contract Type
    JCT Intermediate with CDP
  • Sector
    Hospitality
  • Project Lead
    Eric Whitehead
  • Location
    London
Kerb, Thomas Neals Yard

What did the project involve?

With 30 years of leisure and hospitality industry experience, Phelan has had the pleasure to work with some fun, unique and trendsetting clients over the years. So, when approached with Kerb’s vision to transform a Victorian banana warehouse in Seven Dials into a food hall – hosting independent food vendors, bars and market grocers – we knew it was a job for us. Phelan was gladly awarded the 18-week, £3m contract in March 2019.

There are two main areas to the location: The “Banana Warehouse” and “Cucumber Ally”. The Banana Warehouse Food Hall covers two floors and is host to 12 independent food vendors and cafes, with ample seating areas, bars and a music staging area. “Cucumber Ally” hosts 9 independent grocers, including florists, bakers, preserves, butchers etc.

What challenges did the project team face?

The project team overcame some familiar challenges with London. The land-locked location in the Covent Garden area made it difficult to get deliveries in, plus works were hampered by the need to keep noise levels down for nearby tenants. Phelan's most significant challenge was the installation of entirely new M&E and plumbing systems. The main plant was four storeys above, for a riser that went through 3 floors of tenants, and the road had to be closed for half the day to achieve this. The Phelan team also contended with small delays to the programme due to finding unaccounted for plumbing. The team managed the challenges well and, alongside our tried-and-tested supply chain, ensured the smooth progression of the project to completion. Since opening, Kerb has enjoyed a successful launch and has enjoyed positive reviews for its fresh and stylish take on food hall dining.


What stand-out features did the project boast?

Stand-out aesthetic features include clean-cut wooden joinery railings that follow down the steel feature stairs, six pink polished concrete counters used to form the bars and show-stopping cheese conveyor belt, a pink lift, and modern light fittings throughout. All features complement the industrial brickwork archways, original windows and steel pillars of the Victorian warehouse. "Cucumber Ally" has a similar contemporary style, with grocer's stalls fitted out with timber joinery backing and zinc-plated front counters with stone tops. Though the vendors are independent businesses, the whole venue has a unified contemporary look that isn't afraid of using splashes of playful colours. Phelan fitted out behind-the-scene areas too, such as an office and staff facilities, supply stores, 7 full kitchens, and lavatory facilities etc. The team also hoisted down and installed a client-sourced industrial-sized "Rothenberg" tank food-disposal system in the basement.

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