Whitemead Forest Park - Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
“Working with Target was a seamless experience from start to finish. They took our ideas and made them a reality, guiding us through every step of the process. The new café has not only met but exceeded our expectations, and we’re excited to see how our guests respond this summer.”
Whitemead Forest Park, an independent holiday park destination nestled in the picturesque Royal Forest of Dean, has experienced significant growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks in part to the rising popularity of staycation holidays. To meet the evolving needs of guests and enhance its facilities, Whitemead recently partnered with Target Catering Equipment with a view to upgrade various aspects of the park’s amenities. This collaboration began with a kitchen overhaul and has since expanded to a new quick serve kitchen café development, aiming to deliver an enhanced experience for guests and create an additional revenue stream for the business.
STAGE 1: UPGRADING THE EXISTING
The relationship between Whitemead and Target started with the goal of modernising the park’s main kitchen. The initial project involved eliminating gas from the kitchen and upgrading to a fully electric cookline. This shift not only improved kitchen efficiency and speed but also resulted in reduced energy costs.
Building on this success, Whitemead further collaborated with Target to revamp the wash-up area, equipping it with a high-capacity Meiko pass-through double basket dishwashing machine and bespoke Target dishwash tabling system with the capacity to handle the park’s busy operations. These upgrades significantly enhanced the kitchen’s functionality, enabling staff to meet peak demand with ease.
BEFORE…
AFTER…
STAGE 2: EXPANDING THE VISION - A NEW DOG-FRIENDLY CAFÉ CONCEPT
Following the success of the kitchen renovation, Whitemead once again partnered with Target to undertake a new and ambitious project: converting an unused outbuilding into a dog-friendly café.
This initiative aimed to cater to guests with pets who were unable to access the indoor dining facilities, while simultaneously adding a new revenue stream for the holiday park.
The goal was to create a seamless extension of the park’s indoor ambiance into the new outdoor café.
PROJECT PLANNING AND DESIGN
Target’s involvement began with an initial site visit to assess the outbuilding and understand Whitemead’s vision. With a clear understanding of the requirements, Target developed a comprehensive design proposal.
The initial layout was adjusted to optimize the use of the limited space, with considerations for seating, kitchen equipment, and overall flow.
The final design emphasized a focus on reheated goods, grab-and-go options, and coffee and cakes, while leveraging the main kitchen for food preparation.
CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS AND QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP
To maintain consistency with the park’s existing interior design, Target crafted a bespoke café counter that reflected Whitemead’s desired aesthetic. The counter featured a specially selected stone top, sourced from local supplier Tudor Granite, ensuring a unique and high-quality finish. The café was also equipped with high-performance equipment, including a carefully chosen high-speed oven that was tested and demonstrated to meet the needs of the new operation. Following these trials, an additional unit was installed in the main kitchen to further enhance service capabilities.
For the wash-up facility, the café was fitted with the latest undercounter dishwasher from Classeq, simplifying both user and maintenance. Target also provided custom back-of-house fabrications, including handwashing stations, open and enclosed storage solutions, ensuring the café’s operations ran smoothly.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Whitemead Forest Park, a renowned local Gloucestershire business, to support them through various stages of their business development.
After proving the success of their original holiday park concept, Whitemead made a brilliant decision to reinvest in their future by building on their already thriving foundation.
At our core, we specialise in delivering tailored solutions, and we’re delighted to have helped bring their vision to life. From the revitalisation of the main kitchen at the ‘Foresters Bar’, to the creation of the dog-friendly ‘Wild Boar Café’, it’s been exciting to see these ideas come to fruition.”
From Concept to Completion
Throughout the project, Target’s team worked closely with Whitemead from the design phase through to manufacture and installation, ensuring the café was completed on time and within budget. The project concluded ahead of the park’s summer 2025 opening, providing Whitemead with a fully operational café that aligned with their original vision.
Conclusion
The Whitemead café project showcases how a well-coordinated partnership can transform underutilized spaces into valuable assets. Through innovative design, customized solutions, and close collaboration, Target successfully delivered a dog-friendly café that complements Whitemead’s offerings, enhancing guest experience while driving additional revenue for the holiday park.
