PKL Group Seamlessly Preserved Dining Operations During Historic Refurbishment at Oriel College, Oxford, with a 16-Unit Temporary Kitchen Rental Solution
Founded in 1326, Oriel College stands as Oxford’s oldest royal foundation, blending centuries of academic excellence with a vibrant and diverse community. Home to approximately 600 students representing over 55 nationalities, Oriel is steeped in tradition yet committed to providing a modern, high-quality student experience.
In late 2023, Oriel College initiated a major refurbishment of its main kitchen and bar area, an ambitious project aimed at transforming its catering facilities to meet modern demands without compromising the college’s day-to-day operations.
With a focus on preserving continuity in catering services throughout the project, the college sought a solution that would maintain food quality and service efficiency while aligning with the aesthetic values of the historic college grounds.
Rather than relocating to an off-site facility, Oriel College chose to situate the temporary kitchen within the Second Quadrangle, ensuring minimal disruption to the student experience and preserving the convenience of onsite dining.
PKL Group was entrusted with delivering a full-scale temporary kitchen rental complex, carefully configured into a bespoke 16-unit modular facility. Designed to replicate the function and flow of a permanent kitchen, the setup included dedicated areas for food preparation, cooking, refrigeration, warewashing, and dry storage.
Understanding the sensitivity of working within a Grade I-listed environment, the college placed a strong emphasis on preserving the visual harmony of its surroundings. To address this, PKL Group collaborated with Oriel College and a graphic designer to cloak the exterior of the kitchen units with bespoke printed panels. These panels replicated the architectural detailing of the adjacent Senior Library building, artfully blending the temporary structure into its historic backdrop and ensuring the quad’s aesthetic integrity remained intact.
This creative solution not only met operational requirements but upheld the timeless character of one of Oxford’s most iconic colleges.
Working in partnership with Oriel College’s estates team and local contractors, PKL Group coordinated all technical requirements including foundations, drainage, utilities, and services, ensuring every aspect was meticulously planned and delivered. Installation was completed seamlessly and on schedule, allowing the college to maintain its catering operations without interruption.
The entire facility was delivered as part of PKL Groups fully managed rental service, offering Oriel College a flexible, low-risk solution. The rental model provided the agility to scale or adapt the setup as needed, without the burden of long-term infrastructure commitments. With no upfront capital investment, the college benefited from predictable monthly costs and simplified budgeting, making it easier to access high-quality kitchen facilities without the pressures of ownership. Throughout the rental period, PKL Group also delivered ongoing maintenance and technical support, ensuring seamless operation and rapid resolution of any issues.
Colin Bailey, Master of Works at Oriel College, commented:
“Speaking with other colleges and the university, it’s clear that PKL Group are one of the market leaders when it comes to temporary kitchen provision. That gave us a lot of confidence going into the project, and the whole process ran really smoothly from start to finish. We worked closely with PKL Group and a local builder to make sure everything was ready, things like the foundation, drainage, water, and electricity. The installation went exactly to plan, and we were up and running in no time.”
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