News /
News / 16.08.2024
Medirest opens well-being focused restaurant at Peterborough City Hospital
Marking its 17 year the long-standing partnership with Progress Health and Peterborough City Hospital (PCH), Medirest has opened “The Wellspring Restaurant”. Following a significant refurbishment of the original restaurant the new design aims to enhance the dining experience for staff, patients and visitors, providing a welcoming and well-being-focused environment.
The official opening on 6th August was marked by ribbon cutting ceremony, with Hannah Coffey, Chief Executive, Peterborough City Hospital. Working with design partners RDA, innovation has been put at the heart of the refurbishment, with key features including :
- a full front-of-house redesign with the addition of new facilities such as three new hot counters and a multi-deck for grab-and-go hot snacks;
- a revamped centre island featuring a salad bar, cake counter, and hot drinks;
- digital menu boards for easy navigation;
- new multi-deck fridges and the addition of a fourth till to improve service times have also been incorporated;
- three meeting pods introduced for staff use, complemented by comfortable seating throughout offers extra meeting space for small gatherings and informal catch-ups.
- a dedicated staff well-being room - providing a relaxing space away from the hospital hustle and bustle
- a staff-only dining area, and an upgraded patio with parasols for shade. s Introduction of booth seating for informal catch-ups, creating a more flexible and user-friendly dining area.
- a stunning 3.5m digital screen has been installed, along with new flooring and improved lighting.
- The Smart Market now provides 24/7 hot food options for overnight staff, ensuring round-the-clock service.
The introduction of digital menu boards and a large digital screen enhances the modern feel of the restaurant, while the Smart Market provides convenient food and drink options for those working out of hours, These enhancements aim to streamline service processes and ensure the continuous availability of hot, affordable, and nutritious food for employees, 24/7.
The overall environment now features a calm, inviting atmosphere with a mix of seating options, from comfy low-level armchairs to large high tables and stools.
Sustainability has also been a key consideration in the refurbishment. New LED lighting has been installed to reduce energy consumption, and the new fridges are more energy-efficient, contributing to the hospital's eco-friendly initiatives. Health and wellness have been promoted through the introduction of nutritious meal options and wellness programs, ensuring that the restaurant supports the well-being of all its users.
Future plans for The Wellspring include the introduction of Time2Eat, a service that will allow staff to order in advance and reduce queue times further. The long-term vision for the partnership is to provide a facility of excellence that offers high-quality food at affordable prices, supporting the cost of living and promoting the well-being of staff, patients, and visitors to Peterborough City Hospital.
Neil Mitchell, Business Director, Medirest said:
“We are delighted to have opened The Wellspring Restaurant. Working in collaboration with PCH, we wanted to create a space that would meet the needs of the hospital’s staff, patients and visitors. By putting wellbeing at the heart of the offer, the innovative design now provides a calm, relaxing, environment for all to enjoy. Additionally, NHS staff will have access to nutritious food 24/7, supporting them when working night shifts. We are looking forward to hearing the feedback from our customers in the coming weeks and months.”
Joel Harrison, Chief Finance Officer for North West Anglia Trust, who runs Peterborough City Hospital, added:
“It’s great to have a new restaurant that not only offers a wide range of cuisines to suit everyone’s tastes they are also offering our staff reduced prices. The restaurant is open for staff, visitors and patients and has out of hours facilities so that people can get drinks and food at any time of day or night. The facilities look great and provide a relaxed environment for people to take time out and improve their wellbeing.”