23/05/14
Manufacturer of air handling units (AHU) and heat recovery units (HRU), Air Design has supplied a bespoke unit for the busy kitchen of a food-led destination1 pub at Cams Mill in Fareham, near Portsmouth. Part of the £90million Elta Group, which provides ventilation equipment around the world, Air Design supplied the AHU for installation by Corhaven Sheet Metal Fabrications of Poole in Dorset.
The prestigious pub, owned by Fuller, Smith & Turner – an independent traditional family brewer founded in 1845 – prides itself on serving fresh, locally sourced produce and ingredients in support of Hampshire’s growers and producers. Having only opened its doors to the dining public a short while ago, the pub’s team of chefs prepare all meals on site. Amongst the usual heat generating cooking equipment of a busy commercial eatery, the kitchen also features a top of the range charcoal grill. The air handling unit, constructed at the manufacturer’s factory in Netherton in the West Midlands, provides fresh air to the kitchen. Air is filtered and then either cooled or heated by the use of an inverter capacity controlled, multiple stage DX (R410a) heat pump coil, providing 65kW of cooling, depending on the ambient conditions inside and out, before being ducted into the kitchen and preparation areas.
Noise breakout through the casing was also a key within the client specification, with the AHU being mounted within the plant room above the manager’s quarters. Combining knowledge and experience with a real focus on adaptation and flexibility, Air Design builds solutions which encompass the latest technologies in component parts. In doing so, the company is able to understand customers’ diverse requirements and has the capabilities needed to meet the requirements of both standard and bespoke applications. A century ago, Cams Mill in Fareham was one of a few tidal mills in operation in the area. Water would be taken from Fareham Creek at high tide and stored in a large pond to drive the mill. The pub today has been built to give the feeling of a restoration rather than a new build project, sympathetically recreated in early 1920’s style similar to that of the original with an array of traditional features. Boasting stunning waterfront views of the Wallington River and its estuary leading into Portsmouth Harbour, it reflects history and tradition.
The original mill was pulled down in 1919, but today the pub of the same name stands in its place near a memorial stone commemorating the mill’s demolition. A ‘destination’ pub is one that has a strong food offering. Generally offering value for money – with a focus on quality food and drink in a relaxing environment – they are said to have an appeal strong enough to be worth a special trip and thus attract customers from far afield.