Cotswold Halt - Toddington, Gloucestershire
The owners of Cotswold Halt, a coffee shop that primarily serves visitors to the Great Western Steam Railway in the Cotswolds, approached Target for help transforming their struggling, outdated establishment. Once a truck-stop style venue, the goal was to create a warm, inviting space that could cater to both regular customers and special events, such as steam train enthusiasts and tourists attending the railway’s themed events.
Target collaborated closely with the railway committee to create a clear vision for the space. After in-depth consultations, Target developed a tailored proposal that balanced modern commercial kitchen technology with the specific needs of the coffee shop’s diverse clientele.
BEFORE REFURBISHMENT…
Key Solutions:
Bespoke Front-of-House Design:
The design for the front-of-house space centered around a welcoming and efficient service area that could handle both everyday customer needs and high traffic events.
This included:
Custom-Designed Service Counter: A tailored serve-over counter featuring hot and cold display units from Cossiga, ideal for showcasing baked goods, sandwiches, and beverages.
Beverage Equipment: High-performance equipment from Lincat and Bravilor to ensure consistent quality and speedy delivery, essential for serving hot drinks during peak times.
Ambient and Refrigerated Storage: To support the diverse range of offerings and maintain efficiency and quality during service.
Back-of-House - Quick Serve Kitchen Concept:
The Quick Serve Kitchen Concept was the perfect fit for the back-of-house area, providing a simple to use, compact, efficient, and versatile solution.
Key equipment included:
Convotherm Mini Combi Oven: A space-saving oven with built-in ventilation hood, offering maximum cooking capacity within a minimal footprint. This allowed for versatile food preparation, from pastries to hot meals.
Duke Hot Holding Units: Flexible tray options allowed for maintaining the consistency and quality of various dishes, crucial during busy service periods.
High-Speed Ovens: These advanced ovens ensured fast heating, enabling quick service during events like the Santa Express and Cheltenham Race Week, where demand peaks sharply.
DURING THE TRANSFORMATION…
Wash-Up Area Transformation:
An often-overlooked part of a kitchen, the wash-up area was a particular challenge in this project due to the limited space available. Target’s in-house design and manufacturing team designed a custom solution that transformed a previously unused room into a highly efficient wash-up area. A Welbilt passthrough dishwasher was installed to ensure fast, thorough cleaning, supporting the cafe’s high turnover during peak events.
BEFORE…
AFTER…
Implementation and Training
Once all equipment was installed, comprehensive training was provided by Brand Managers and Development Chefs to ensure the team could fully utilise the advanced technology. Each piece of equipment was configured to align with the cafes specific menu and service requirements. The training sessions ensured that all staff were proficient with the new systems, resulting in smoother, more efficient operations.
Today, Cotswold Halt, is thriving, with its modern kitchen setup and revamped service areas supporting a high volume of customers during major events such as the Santas Express and Cheltenham Race Week. The transformation has not only improved the cafe’s daily operations but also elevated its ability to serve the railway’s special events, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere and efficient service.
Conclusion
Target’s expertise in kitchen design, equipment selection, and custom manufacturing enabled Cotswold Halt to successfully transition from an outdated coffee shop to a modern, event-ready venue. The combination of advanced technology, personalised service, and hands-on training resulted in a kitchen that meets the demands of both daily customers and large event crowds, contributing to the cafe’s revitalised success.