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Hospitality fit-out contractor WFC showcases its award-winning interiors

As one of Britain’s most successful fit-out specialists, WFC has over 30 years’ experience in providing […]

 WFC Profile

As one of Britain’s most successful fit-out specialists, WFC has over 30 years’ experience in providing high quality services delivered by excellent people for clients within the UK leisure industry.

WFC was founded in 1976 by Brian Waggett and Lloyd Howle. Their respective sons Philip and Steve joined the business in 1999, allowing Brian and Lloyd to retire a few years later. The company’s reputation has since spread far beyond its Devon-based office and its ever-expanding portfolio includes: OXO Tower, HIX Selfridges, Rank/Gala Casinos, Royal Horse Guards Hotel (Guoman) and David Lloyd Leisure.

From one-off projects to national roll-outs, WFC is able to deliver high quality project management services using its extensive expertise and flexible approach. The company prides itself on its ability to complete fit-outs and refurbishments in challenging timescales, whilst its high level of client retention – 70% of its work is repeat business – speaks for itself.

 WFC Profile

In May 2012, WFC was awarded the coveted NAS Design Award for its exceptional work on The Delaunay. Launched to recognise the partnership between shopfitters and designers, the award is viewed as the industry’s seal of approval. WFC fought off competition from the prestigious Novikov and Wahaca developments, ultimately emerging victorious.

Commenting on the well-deserved win, Managing Director of WFC, Steve Howle, said:

“We are extremely proud to have been awarded the NAS Design Award after working alongside our client Rex Restaurant Associates and designers David Collins Studios, whose approach and level of professionalism enabled us to produce a high quality end product.”

 WFC Profile

Located on the corner of Aldwych and Drury Lane in London, The Delaunay is an elegant café-restaurant that takes its inspiration from the grand cafés of Old Europe. From the special selection of wieners and schnitzels to restaurant classics such as salads and steaks, the extensive á la carte menu offers a range of mouth-watering treats to suit any palette.

The brainchild of restaurant duo Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, the stunning restaurant was completed in November 2011 following a multi-million, 20 week fit-out project. WFC was selected as the main contractor after impressing the client management team with its work on the 130-seat Conran Restaurant on Fleet Street and successfully winning the tender for this project.

 WFC Profile

Nick Moffat, Senior Project Manager for WFC, said:

“One of our biggest challenges was adopting a design coordination role. Essentially it was WFC’s responsibility to coordinate every single drawing that was issued from a consultant, and we therefore had to relay drawings and make sure that everything would fit as the designer wanted it.”

Steve Howle, Managing Director of WFC, added:

“Another challenge was the fact that it was a tight programme in relatively difficult conditions. Effectively the job was split into three areas: a basement area with back-of-house kitchens and office spaces, the main restaurant area on the ground floor, and the takeaway counter.

 WFC Profile

“A lot of money was spent on quality finishes, including timber panelling, chequerboard marble flooring, bronze metalwork and gold leaf detailing –lending the restaurant a very authentic, ‘oldie-worldy’ feel. We are particularly pleased with the successful integration of the marble floors and fibrous ceilings.”

WFC was responsible for the complete shell fit-out of the two-storey, 13,000 sq ft development. Works included structural alterations, along with the installation of a new kitchen (and associated mechanical and electrical works) and the fit-out of walls, ceilings, floors and joinery.

 WFC Profile

All of the front-of-house areas – including the main restaurant and reception, cloakrooms, main bar area and private dining rooms – are located on the ground floor. In addition to the main restaurant area, The Delaunay has also opened The Counter, which has an independent entrance and offers take-out food, a local delivery service and relaxed dining throughout the day.

WFC was very happy with how The Delaunay turned out, as Steve Howle explained:

“We are honoured to have worked on The Delaunay; a truly stunning restaurant in a prime London location. Both the level of finishes and the level of detailing are extremely high, and the end result is nothing short of fantastic. Indeed, we were able to negotiate our next major project – Brasserie Zédel – off the back of our work on The Delaunay.”

 WFC Profile

Sited within feet of Piccadilly Circus, Brasserie Zédel was built almost a century ago, originally for use as a ballroom. It was relaunched as the Atlantic Bar & Grill in the 1990s, before closing in 2005.

In November 2011, WFC was selected to work with Rex Restaurant Associates and David Collins Studios once again in order to transform the site into a beautiful Parisian brasserie. Featuring a stunning art-deco style interior that is adorned with marble, brass, oak and pewter, the three-storey restaurant clearly illustrates WFC’s award-winning craftsmanship.

 WFC Profile

Through the café, a sweeping staircase then leads down past the Crazy Coq cabaret and event room before opening out into a subterranean foyer that incorporates both a spacious dining room and the Bar Américain cocktail bar.

Already one of the most talked-about restaurants this year, the multi-million Brasserie Zédel was handed over in June 2012 following WFC’s successful completion of an extensive fit-out project. In addition to overseeing all of the joinery and floor finishes, its work included installing the mechanical and electrical works, along with the canopies, cold rooms and cooking equipment.

The project was not without its challenges, as Senior Project Manager, Nick Moffat, explained:

“As with The Delaunay, we took on a design coordination role. The sheer scale of the venue was a challenge, and this was confounded further by the listed status of the building – which would ultimately require us to gain permission from English Heritage for some of the works.

 WFC Profile

“However, despite all challenges, there was a very smooth transition between us handing the project over and the client taking occupation. In fact, they even took occupation earlier than programmed.”

Managing Director of WFC, Steve Howle, added:

“We are very happy with the quality of the finished article. There is such a ‘wow factor’ as you walk down the stairs, and the high ceilings are stunning. Every last detail has been completed to the highest possible quality, which has created a restaurant that everybody is very proud of.”

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One of WFC’s recurrent clients is national restaurant group, Aubaine. To date, the company has completed fit-out projects for Aubaine at its Selfridges London, Selfridges Manchester, Kensington, Mayfair and Wimbledon sites.

Its first site, Selfridges London, required WFC to create an attractive restaurant space within the busy shoe department. Combining rustic France with a contemporary design, the restaurant features a French country style floor tile and mirrors around the kitchen area to create the illusion of space.

Following on from its success at the Selfridges London site, WFC completed the new Aubaine on the lower ground floor of the Manchester Exchange Square site. The design features Aubaine’s signature palette of grey and neutral tones, along with marble surfaces and antique finishes.

 WFC Profile

Commenting on their strong working relationship with the Aubaine group, Steve Howle, Managing Director of WFC, said:

“We value our working relationship with Aubaine, having worked alongside them since 2010. Our first two projects at Selfridges London and High Street, Kensington were tendered, whilst all of the following fit-outs were negotiated – with the last one at Wimbledon Village completed just last month.

“Aubaine are always a pleasure for us to work with, as we like both the group and the individuals involved. B3 Designers drive the concept, and the relationship between us, the client and the client’s quantity surveyor is very much a working team.

“Although the design for each restaurant is similar in terms of joinery, finishes and overall colour theme, every project has been interesting in its own way. For instance, the Dover Street development in Mayfair was a very fast-track project and we had to liaise very closely with the designer throughout the fit-out to ensure the speed of the delivery and the quality of the end product.”

 WFC Profile

WFC also has a number of other high-profile projects in the pipelines. The company is currently working on an enabling package for the new Buddha Bar in Knightsbridge.

Explaining the key to WFC’s success, Managing Director Steve Howle commented:

“WFC is all about the people. Each person that we work with, from our employees to any of our supply chain, is part of a team. Our company is not based on individuals, but on a brand that works as one to deliver a successful project each time, every time.”

For more information call 020 7436 1111, visit www.wfccontractors.com or follow WFC on Twitter @WFCcontractors.

WFC Profile

Hallmark Kitchens Ltd

Hallmark Kitchens Ltd project manage, supply and install commercial kitchens. The company works across the spectrum from schools and blue-chip companies to hotels and restaurants.

On the Delaunay Restaurant project, Hallmark supplied and installed the basement kitchen equipment including cooking equipment and bespoke fabrication. They also worked on the ground floor kitchen, bars and retail counter area.

Chris Douglas, Co-owner of Hallmark Kitchen’s Ltd and Hallmarks Project Manager on the Delaunay project said:

“This was a challenging job because access to the basement was very limited and the area required careful space planning; however in conjunction with the food service consultant SHW and the main contractor WFC we achieved the objective.

“It was also a pleasure and fantastic experience to be working for Corbin and King who own Rex Restaurants and who are one of the most successful restaurateurs’ in London.

Chris Douglas added:

“We are now working on our third Corbin and King project, Cafe Colbert in Sloane Square, after having recently completed Brasserie Zedel in Sherwood Street.

“We think the work we have carried out with Rex Restaurants demonstrates that Hallmark is a company that you can rely on to deliver on time, to clients’ expectations and within budget.”

Scriptus Ltd

Scriptus teamed up with Jeremy King and Chris Corbin to provide internal and external signage for The Delaunay. Having previously produced signage for The Wolseley, Scriptus Ltd was employed to manufacture and install the signage in order to complement the unique grandeur of the new restaurant.

Scriptus Ltd worked closely with graphic designers Sands Thomas, King Design and David Collins Studio to manufacture cast bronze curved plaques for the entrance columns. The company also manufactured a series of bronze effect lettering and light boxes, vinyl window graphics and cast bronze ‘D’s’ for use in the entrance ways.

An additional feature included a decorated and gilded glass panel for the counter which was designed to incorporate an aged, distressed appearance.

P A Schofield Ltd 

For over 20 years, P A Schofield Ltd has provided specialist decorating services to the leisure industry. P A Schofield has completed works for bars, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos and high profile clients including Gala Bingo, KFC and Pizza Hutt.

P A Schofield Ltd has an excellent working relationship with WFC and has provided the company with specialist decorating services for almost 18 years. P A Schofield Ltd completed all the decoration works on The Delauney.

P A Schofield Ltd Managing Director, Paul Schofield said:

“It’s very important for P A Schofield Ltd to be involved with WFC on all of their projects. We have a fantastic working relationship with them and we have never let them down.”

Gardner & Sons Ltd 

Gardner & Sons Ltd is a heating and plumbing specialist carrying out work for restaurants, nightclubs and public houses. The family-run company has been in operation for over 8 years and has worked as the main plumbing contractor for WFC for the past 5 years.

Working with WFC, Gardener & Sons Ltd has designed and manufactured heating and plumbing systems for David Lloyd Gym, Fitness First, Luminar and Cocoon Restaurant.

Darren Gardner, Gardner & Sons Ltd, said:

“Gardner & Sons Ltd liaises with each client to bring jobs in on time and on budget.

“We design and build systems that suit our clients’ specific needs and we eradicate any potential flaws in the design before work is implemented.

“Most recently we have completed work for Aubaine and 28-50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen.”

 Halton Foodservice Limited

Halton is a global company with representation & manufacturing in many countries. In the UK Halton Foodservice Limited specialise in the manufacture and installation of commercial kitchen ventilation systems for use in the catering industry. The UK branch has been in operation for over 30 years, based in Rochester, Kent, Halton Foodservice Limited employs 67 staff.

The plant has manufacturing, R & D, Showroom and Testing, enabling us to supply ventilation solutions for many high profile restaurants, hotels, business locations and stadiums.

Halton Foodservice Limited Design Manager Marc Byford, said:

“Introduced by Sefton Horn Winch, we have worked closely on a number of ‘high end’ restaurants with WFC and are establishing a good working synergy together.”

 

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