Equipment focus: Berkins backs Winterhalter washers
Kevin Berkins owns two of the best pubs in the North West. The Fence Gate Inn near Burnley was named Freehouse of the Year in The Publican Awards 2007, while the Eagle at Barrow, acquired last year, is fast rivalling its reputation.
Berkins has also won food awards including the Best Pub Sausage, awarded by BPEX in association with The Publican.
The Eagle has been developed as an 'eco site', focusing on low-energy equipment.
"There are only a few bulbs of more than 11 watts in the place," he says.
When it came to dish and glass washers, he went for Winterhalter machines, including the new GS500 Energy+ pass through with its 'intelligent resource technology'.
For Berkins, selecting the right warewashing is crucial because of the volume of dirty crockery and glasses his pubs generate.
Both pubs have 100-plus seater brasseries. The Fence Gate has two function rooms, of 100 and 300 covers respectively, while the Eagle has a 175-seater function room, a very busy piano and champagne lounge and an adjacent deli with its own smokehouse and meat aging facilities.
That's clearly a lot of warewashing. Berkins has relied on Winterhalter glasswashers for many years. "They're not the cheapest machines, but they do a better job," he says. Recently he switched to Winterhalter dishwashers, too, including the Energy+ unit at the eco-friendly Eagle.
"Going down the energy-saving route has meant the initial costs are higher," he says. "But the payback will be in efficiency.
"We're not just spending money to do our bit for the environment, although that is definitely a factor; we're also looking to make real savings in the longer-term."
A Winterhalter GS500 pass-through dishwasher fitted with the Energy+ system will save around 23 per cent per year in running costs, the company estimates. "Plus, like the Winterhalter glasswashers, they are totally reliable when it comes to cleaning results."
- For more information, call Winterhalter on 01908 359000, or see www.winterhalter.co.uk
