Start-up Café Advice Regarding Extraction

[Disco Blob]

Hi everyone,

I’m a budding business owner about to take over my first premises in the next few weeks, which is both thrilling and a bit stressful. One of my main concerns has been the extraction system.

The property has Class E use from the local authority, allowing for café or restaurant operations. However, a significant challenge is the absence of a flue and extraction system. Unfortunately, my current budget doesn’t stretch to cover the lengthy and costly process of planning, canopy installation, and fan setup. While we do plan to address this issue in the future, we won’t be eligible for additional funding until we’ve been trading for six months.

I have a couple of questions: We’ll need to cook grease-heavy dishes, including stews, fried foods, and roasted meats, for 4 to 5 days a week. Would installing a couple of 12-inch wall-mounted extractor fans, along with cross-ventilation from open windows, and using a grease-filtering air purifier be adequate for the next few months while we wait for funding?

If anyone has experience with this or knows someone who does, I would greatly appreciate your insights. I’ve seen other café owners manage without any extraction apart from a large desk fan and open windows, while others have gone all out with full restaurant canopies for even light frying. Any advice would be invaluable!

Thank you!

 

[fisicx]

Ask your local council. They are the ones who will be doing the examination and signing off any changes.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Ask your local council. They are the ones who will be doing the examination and signing off any changes.

This, really. They will be popping in to see you!

I've dug out this - it relates to Croydon, but might give some tips & pointers. https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/articles/downloads/ventilation_guidance_note.pdf

Then of course you have the fun of keeping the neighbours happy (depending on location)

 

[WaveJumper]

As above if the council insist on seeing a full blown extraction system keeping the neighbours happy can be a major issue especially if you have residential on top or around you. Whatever system you have installed just make sure it is cleaned out on a regular basis Ive had my fair share of burger establishments over the years causing fires in shopping centre because that thought they would get away with saving on a little house keeping

Also a very good idea is to have some sort of fat busting device installed on your sinks you'd be surprised how quickly your drains can get blocked

Best of luck with your new venture

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

With businesses I have helped, minor re/heating via an oven is probably OK. Get into cooking full meals and a commercial extraction system is normally required and possibly, specific planning permission.

As mentioned, speak to your council asap.

If full food prep is core to your business, do not sign any leases or agreements until this is sorted.

 

[Disco Blob]

Thank you guys for the responses! I think we're going to be renting out a dark kitchen from where to do the major cooking and use the shop only to reheat and sell until we have planning permission to install the flue. The issue is that our location is very good (Shoreditch side of Brick Lane) which is almost always busy throughout the year, however it is a somewhat conservation area and we have flats above, behind and in front of our shop! However after checking their planning permission portal I have seen Tower Hamlets Council (which is where we are based) are more likely to grant permission for flues/extraction systems and restaurants then they were like before Covid. I will make sure to use a reputable company to handle the planning permission and have all the relevant noise and pollution reports to so that we have the greatest chance of success.

 

[fisicx]

Get the planning permission BEFORE signing the lease!

 

[WaveJumper]

Get the planning permission BEFORE signing the lease!

Absolutely agree

 

[WaveJumper]

Just another thought hope you checked there are no restrictions on trading times due to the residential surrounding you

 

[Mark T Jones]

I would certainly speak to your local council. I see your a newly opened cafe. Have you ever thought about the social media side of things yet ?

Small point. If you're here to promote your social media services, grammar is kind of important

 

[HFE Signs]

For the venting system, you really need to know the volume of air you need to move to give you the desired air changes per hour. Most air conditioning people would be able to visit and give you some advice and a no obligation quote. That will give you some indication of whether the fans you're proposing will be adequate.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Do your customers have access to a parking area nearby

 

[frankie007]

You are only allowed to reheat food without the extraction. So and oven, toaster but not a gas, induction stove for any serious cooking. It is a Health and Safety issue and any local authority will take a dim view of smoke, spent gas fumes not being carried out via extraction.

 

[eteb3]

Do your customers have access to a parking area nearby

Tell me you’ve never been to Brick Lane without telling me you’ve never been to Brick Lane ;-)

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Tell me you’ve never been to Brick Lane without telling me you’ve never been to Brick Lane ;-)

I dont have a clue where it is and no interest in looking it up on google, so the question is why should I know whats it famous for apart from probably making bricks

 

[fisicx]

It’s famous for all the Indian restaurants. Typical narrow London street. No parking anywhere.

 

[eteb3]

why should I know whats it famous for apart from probably making bricks

No reason you should, and sorry if I suggested that. The images in my mind of "Brick Lane" and "parking" were all that made me laugh.