Case Studies
SSE Arena Belfast – Char + Mash Fitout
Stephens Catering Equipment is proud to have delivered a full kitchen and bar fitout as part of the revamp of the iconic SSE Arena at Odyssey Place, Belfast. Working in collaboration with Marcon, this project showcases our expertise in designing and delivering high-performance commercial kitchens within challenging, high-demand environments.
Project Overview
Char + Mash is a high-volume restaurant concept designed to cater for up to 200 guests, with the unique requirement of serving the majority of covers within a 2-hour window prior to arena events. This created the need for a kitchen that could deliver speed, consistency, and quality—all within a compact footprint.From initial design through to installation, our team focused on creating a seamless workflow that maximises efficiency, reduces service times, and supports high-output cooking.
Kitchen Design & Flow
The kitchen layout was carefully planned to ensure a logical and efficient flow of operations:
- Cold and freezer rooms positioned for easy access and optimal storage
- A streamlined cooking line featuring a chargrill, griddle, and dedicated burger preparation station
- High-capacity fryer systems designed to handle peak demand
- Clearly defined zones to support prep, cooking, and service without bottlenecks
Despite spatial constraints, the result is a state-of-the-art kitchen capable of delivering large volumes of food quickly, without compromising on quality.
Ventilation & Filtration
A key requirement of the project was ensuring zero smoke and odour discharge from the kitchen. To achieve this, we installed a 4-stage filtration system, incorporating ESP and ozone technology, along with full ducting and canopy installation.This system ensures compliance with strict site requirements while maintaining a clean and efficient working environment.
Equipment Supplied
We supplied and installed a comprehensive range of premium equipment to support the operation, including:
- Rational AG iCombi oven for versatile, high-performance cooking
- Falcon Foodservice Equipment fryers, induction range, chargrill, and griddle
- Koldbox refrigeration systems
- Tefcold freezer drawers
- Scotsman Ice Systems ice machines
- Hobart washware solutions
- Moffat drop-in bain marie
- Cold rooms and freezer rooms for bulk storage
In addition, our in-house fabrication department produced all bespoke stainless steel elements, ensuring a perfect fit and durable, high-quality finish throughout the kitchen and bar areas.
The Result
The completed Char + Mash kitchen is a high-efficiency, high-output environment, purpose-built to meet the demands of a busy arena setting. It enables the team to deliver fast, consistent service to hundreds of guests within tight timeframes—without compromising on food quality.
