There’s something innately personal about a kitchen, even in a commercial space. Good kitchen design should always consider the needs of the people using it and the building it occupies.

Church kitchens sit exactly between commercial and domestic; they need to be hard-wearing enough to cater for a huge number of people, but they also need to offer a comfortable, welcoming environment.

Just as every church is unique, so are the needs of its kitchen. At Steelplan, we know what questions to ask at the beginning of the project to make sure that you are getting exactly the right solution for your congregation.

Here are a few points to consider before you embark on your kitchen renovation, to help you get the right solution.

The space
Are you renovating an old building or in the process of building a new one? Perhaps you’re converting a church out-building to give it a new lease of life, or extending the church itself to improve functionality. Maybe you know that you need a kitchen, but still aren’t sure where to put it.

Whatever your circumstance, this is the first question to check off your list to make sure you get the best out of your church kitchen. If you’re hazy on the details, an initial discussion with Steelplan Kitchens’ design team could help you find the answer.

Restrictions
If your church is listed, you could be restricted on changes you’re allowed to make. This can be complicated, but where there’s a will there’s a way. The team at Steelplan have fitted kitchens in church buildings of all shapes and sizes, and should be able to advise on how to meet these requirements.

Surrounding space and security
Think carefully about how the hall or building the kitchen is located in is used; if it’s a crèche for five days a week, for instance, you’ll need to think about how to make the space as safe as possible. Security can also be an issue if there are a lot of people coming and going; in that case, shutters could be the answer.

Current use, future possibilities
Don’t only think about the current use of the kitchen, but how renovation could open new opportunities for your church. You may want to scale its catering capability up to the next level with products that can serve more people, or transform the space from a warming kitchen to a full-scale food preparation area.

Caterers or volunteers?
Who will be using the space? If you’re opting for a high-end extension that will be used by a professional catering team, you can opt for more commercial grade appliances. If it’ll be used mostly by volunteers, make sure everything is simple enough for them to use safely and easily.


Look out for more tips next month, when we look at how to choose the right cooking appliances for your church kitchen.

In the meantime, if you want to find out more about the practicalities of renovating your church kitchen, or even building a new one, help is at hand. Steelplan Kitchens have a wealth of experience creating church kitchens for every budget and every building, and can help you to draft up a detailed brief before work begins. Just call us on 0844 809 9186.