Friend's Cafe
Our client said….
….an impressive and successful outcome on time and in difficult circumstances…. the building fulfilled the Friends’ aspirations for a welcoming and therapeutic facility.
The Story
For many years the Royal United Hospital’s “Friends Cafe” had been housed in a ‘conservatory’ tacked onto the side of a corridor.
In 2014, a ‘dementia improvements’ project (for which we are also architects) in an adjacent ward, created an opportunity for the development of a new cafe.
The brief, developed with The Friends and the Facilities team, was to create a place away from the hustle and bustle of the main hospital. The atmosphere was to be warm and friendly, without any reminder of the cafe’s location - in a hospital.
We did, however, have to apply the strict criteria of hospital and food hygiene.
We created a timber structure which was warm and welcoming, with a considerable amount of ‘visual interest’. We worked with RUH’s Infection Control to ensure good hygiene and compliance with hospital and NHS policies.
The cafe opens out onto a small terrace.
Formally opened by Mary Berry in 2014 the cafe has since been renamed as The Cafe @B18, but with no other changes. All proceeds from the very popular cafe are still regenerated back to the hospital, providing comforts and amenities to patients and all who use the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
Project Team:
Client: Royal United Hospital, Bath
Consulting structural & civil engineers: Structural Solutions
Consulting services engineers: Houghton Greenlees & Associates
Cost consultant: Clark Associates
Contractor: South West Construction