What’s Cooking?

The College is now the proud owner of a shiny new kitchen, our old kitchens having been fully refurbished between July and November. Over this period the Catering Team operated out of field kitchens in Second’s Quad. This was no mean feat and involved transporting food and equipment back and forth to the Dining Hall. The Team tackled this challenge with characteristic zest and determination whilst also facing the national shortage of hospitality staff and the supply chain issues caused by Brexit and the pandemic.

The refurbishment was complex and threw up some curious beartraps. For instance, when the strip-out of the old kitchen was completed, we discovered that there were no foundations beneath the floor. Reverend Woodard had built his kitchen on sand, not rock, since the kitchen block was only meant to be temporary and was going to be knocked down for the Chapel to be connected to the main building. Interestingly, this is why the Dining Hall staircase is so very grand – it was meant to be part of the entrance to the Chapel. We have remedied this and now we have very firm foundations (in keeping with the College’s ethos). 

There has, of course, also been plenty of redecoration and remodelling, as well as new wiring, drainage, ventilation, plumbing, lighting and cooking equipment. I would like to thank the contractor, Pilbeam, Mrs Bond and the Catering Team, and Ms Fisher, the Estates Bursar, who all weathered an excitingly stormy project on budget and on time...Well, nearly!

Mark Milling, Bursar

Published in Dec 2021