Falcon helps Darlington College kitchen rise from the flames

New equipment feeds both mind and body of Darlington students.

In October 2016, the kitchens at Darlington College caught fire. “We initially thought the damage would be fairly limited,” says James Butterfield, head of estates and facilities. “Once we were able to inspect the site the following day, it became obvious that a complete refurbishment was needed.

Getting the kitchen up and running as quickly as possible was vital. Not only were there 1500 full-time and 1500 part-time students to keep fed, but the kitchens are a vital educational resource. The catering department itself has 150 full time students with another 70 coming in as apprentices. 

The kitchen is split into two,” explains James. “One side provides food for catering outlets on the campus, while the other supports the restaurant, both of which are run by staff-supported students.” 

GastroNorth was brought in to design and specify the new kitchens. “Their reputation in the industry is second to none,” says James. “Plus, we knew from work they’ve done on smaller projects for us that they have the expertise to deliver exactly what we want.

Cooking on the F900 cooklineGiving students the chance to use professional equipment is extremely important. “Your first contact with a working kitchen can be overwhelming,” explains James. “It’s good to have equipment that is simple to use, but still provides students with relevant experience.” 

On an average day, Darlington College is serving up to 800 meals across various outlets on campus. With time being of the essence, it’s important to have equipment that can work fast. “We’re really happy with how quickly the Falcon equipment is ready to use,” says James. “Not only do the burners and ranges heat up quickly, but just as importantly, temperature control is accurate.” 

This is important for new students. “When you’re learning you don’t want to have to worry that the equipment is wrong,” says James. “It’s good knowing that if you set a temperature, that’s what you’ll get.

With any new installation, teething troubles are to be expected. “We’ve been very impressed with the service Falcon provides,” says James. “Not only did they send a member of staff round to help with the initial training, but they’ve been very responsive when we’ve contacted them with any issues since then.

The initial shock of losing a key part of the college’s facility has faded, and James is extremely pleased with the replacement. “Knowing that we’ve got the best equipment for keeping the college fed, and for providing our students with a world-class education is a nice ending to this story!



What's in the Kitchen?

  • NAEB101R combi
  • E3914i induction range
  • G3121 boiling top
  • G3425 chargrill
  • G3840F fryer
  • E600 rise & fall grill

 

Insert Darlington College video



Literature

View and download all of our literature, including product manuals, specification sheets, user manuals, installation guides, price lists and policy documents.

View All

Chef’s Corner

Here's where you'll find all of chef Shaune's useful tips in the kitchen, including culinary, cleaning and maintenance advice, as well as recipes and cooking guides.

More Info

Falcon TV

The home of all our videos - from the latest case studies and product promos to how to videos on how to operate and clean your Falcon equipment.

View All

What’s New?

Keep up-to-date with all that's new at Falcon - new products and innovations, new people, investments in our factory, case studies and more.

View All

Falcon Kitchens

Falcon equipment is the cornerstone of kitchens around the UK and beyond - here's some examples of recent Falcon installations.

More Info

#falconfoodservice

Connect With Us

All the latest from our social media feeds.