M&B opens first 'wireless' pub restaurant

Mitchells & Butlers will open its first pub restaurant, designed to be as energy efficient as possible, at the Toby Carvery, Banbury.

The pub restaurant is part of a Company-wide project to improve energy efficiency in Mitchells & Butlers' buildings.

Mitchells & Butlers has specifically integrated a series of energy saving measures into the construction and design of the new build Toby Carvery.

Opening this week, the business will operate as a trial site, to help the Company understand how energy saving equipment can work most effectively in a busy and practical business environment.

A Wireless Control System will centrally manage the temperature and timings of energy circuits throughout the building in line with the operational functionality of the business.

A newly designed and fully insulated cellar will house a specialist glycol cooling conversion system. This system will maintain the temperature of wine, beer, back bar refrigerators and the cellar to deliver a more efficient cooling and dispense process, as well as lowering energy costs.

Low energy and low wattage bulbs have been installed throughout the pub restaurant as well as light sensors being fitted to light intermittent rooms and placing sensors on external lighting fittings.

Other energy saving initiatives being trialled at the new Toby Carvery include a kitchen 'intelli-hood' to monitor cooking activity and minimise energy wastage, and a thermostat-controlled carving deck. A rainwater harvest system has also been installed to recycle rainwater for use in the garden area.

The performance of the various new technologies on trial will be carefully monitored to help the Company determine how these could work across its pub and pub restaurant estate.