At the end of July 2019, the kitchen of Church House Westminster was closed for a 5-week refurbishment.
Extensive works included replacing old equipment, much of which used gas, with brand new appliances that use green electric energy. New oven ranges, bratt pans, boiling pans, hot cupboards, water boilers, steam/combi ovens, salamanders, fryers, induction cookers, fridges and dishwashers were all replaced.
Following the refurbishment, Catering Manager, Magdalena Kujda, commented: “The new green energy equipment along with the renovation of the kitchen areas provide us with an extensive opportunity to be even more creative when delivering menus for large conferences and dinners. Access to working areas has been greatly improved, allowing our chefs to utilise the clever use of energy-efficient equipment. Food wastage will be further reduced, all of which add to our sustainability strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of the venue”.
In further news relating to the kitchen and catering operations at Church House, Head Chef, Joseph Lovell has decided to explore a personal business venture. Lovell, who has overseen the kitchen at Church House for a year and a half, joined after a stint as Chef de Partie in various Michelin-starred restaurants in London, followed by 4 years with CH&CO.
Lovell’s successor at Church House Westminster is Nick Seckington, who joins the Westminster venue from The Law Society, where he is currently Executive Chef. Seckington has a 9-year working background with CH&CO as Head Chef within various London-based venues. He is due to commence his new role at Church House Westminster on 7 October.
Commenting on the new appointment, Robin Parker, General Manager at Church House Westminster, said: “Event organisers who have used us will know that Church House offers a convenient one-stop-shop for events, where event planning is uncomplicated, using our in-house caterers as well as our in-house audio-visual technicians. The recent investment in the new kitchens is a testament to our commitment to our catering services and our passion for delivering outstanding food. We thank Joseph for all his hard work and inventive menus. We look forward to welcoming Nick to Church House who I am sure will continue to elevate our catering standards.”.