Testimonial – ISA UK, Nardinis

ISA UK chosen by Nardini’s…

Scotland’s most famous café, restaurant & destination ice cream parlour has reopened featuring refrigerated display cases and counters supplied by ISA (UK).  Following a major refurbishment project Nardini’s, a landmark art deco building on the West coast of Scotland at The Esplanade, Largs, has recreated the sumptuous surroundings and fabulous ambience for which it was always known.  Nardini’s has achieved this in no small part by using the ISA UP range of refrigerated display cases whose crisp, angular, contemporary style fitted perfectly into the art-deco theme.

Originally built in 1935, Nardini’s was once the largest café in Britain.  It was recently rescued from administration by the Italgelat consortium which includes David Equi whose family has been involved in making high quality, speciality ice cream since 1922.  David’s ice cream was judged to be the Champion of Champions at the Ice Cream Alliance National Ice Cream competition held at the Yorkshire Event Centre in November 2008.  Both his strawberry ice cream and kiwi sorbet were judged top of their classes, with his creations for the dairy artisan and rhubarb being judged second in their categories.

With his partners David Equi has overseen the turnaround of the seafront operation which had fallen into disrepair under previous ownership.  The multi-million pound refurbishment has been completed to a very high standard with the interior design work being carried out by a leading Glasgow-based interior design company, Thompson McLeod.

ISA (UK) was chosen to supply the refrigerated display cabinets and shop fittings against stiff competition.  “We had a number of potential suppliers” said David, “but we chose ISA (UK) for a number of reasons – not least because they were willing to work with us over a long period of time before we finalised our designs.  Ultimately their superb UP range fitted our creative concept perfectly and, because we were effectively dealing directly with the UK division of the Italian factory, they were able to deliver on time at the right price” he added.

The art deco theme has been retained using dark, natural woods, angular detail work, contrasting colours, and custom-made light fittings.  The modern ISA UP range, with its combinations of clear glass, bright stainless steel, silver mirrors, and coloured glass was an ideal match for the interior concept.  The restaurant has been split into three distinct areas; café, retail; and pizzeria.  The ISA UP range features in each of these three areas.  In addition, the service and preparation area for the pizza and pasta restaurant required curved counters and features products from the ISA Gold Range, with Luce Viva Decoration.  The majority of the refrigeration system is situated remotely, in the basement, to reduce noise in the building, and to ensure that servicing and maintenance can be carried out without disruption to business.

Cafe Area

The largest part of the interior features a 200-seat café, serving a range of hot and cold dishes and ice cream sundaes and coupés.  The counter is designed to enable two duplicated servicepoints to cope with peak demand.  On the front counter there is a centrally located, twelve-flavour scooping ice cream display, with a refrigerated bar counter on either side specially adapted for sundae preparation.  At the far right and left hand ends of the front counter are refrigerated displays for pastries.

The back fittings and  base units have a central refrigerated section with eight glass doors and internal illumination for the display and storage of chilled soft drinks, beers, and wine.  At the ends are coffee machine base units incorporating knock-out drawers and storage cupboards.  Sinks and wash hand basins are also included in the back-fittings.  The upper structure has, over the central section, glass shelves for storage and display, with a high level light box over the entire length.

The overall colour scheme is black glass counter fronts and facing to light boxes; silver mirrors, clear glass shelves, bright stainless steel and chrome.  The overall length of the counter is 8.5 metres.

Retail Area

The retail area is primarily for a take-away service, including ice creams, sandwiches and drinks.  The main entrance is located here and the front counter is L-shaped, having at its centre a 24-flavour scooping ice cream display.  This makes a stunning focal point for customers entering the building.  At each side is a twelve-flavour ice cream display, each angled at 45 degrees to the central display unit.  To one side of this combination is an ISA Gelato Mix unit where ice cream dishes exclusive to Nardini’s are prepared.  Next to the Gelato Mix is a refrigerated display for sandwiches and pastries.

The back fittings incorporate a multi-deck refrigerated display unit (for the service and display of chilled drinks), a sandwich preparation area, a coffee machine station and refrigerated storage. There are also ambient storage cupboards, sinks, wash hand basins and freezer storage for take away ice cream tubs.  The upper structure has glass shelves for storage and display, with a high level light box over the entire length.

The overall colour scheme is black glass counter fronts and facing to light boxes; silver mirrors, clear glass shelves, bright stainless steel and chrome.  The overall size of the bar counter is 7.5 metres x 4.8 metres.

To the back of this area is a small ice cream ‘factory’ with a large viewing window where customers can see the ice cream being freshly made.  David Equi himself is in charge of ice cream production, which is made to his award winning recipes.

Pizzeria (Pizza & Pasta Restaurant)

ISA products are featured in the service and preparation area for the 80-seat pizza and pasta restaurant.  In order to accentuate the large, gas-fired, open pizza oven the counter was required to be curved.  An alternative to the linear lines of the ISA UP range was chosen – the ISA Gold Range in a Luce Viva Finish, featuring a burgundy-coloured glass front and a Nero Assoluto granite counter top.  Part of the unit incorporates a pizza prep station with open refrigerated containers for toppings, proving drawers, and refrigerated storage cupboards.  The remainder of the counter has a curved profile, with refrigerated storage beneath, with a dropped preparation counter on the operator side all in stainless steel.  At the far end of the counter is the till counter and a refrigerated display for desserts.  The overall size of the counter is 12.6 metres by 4.2 metres.

The service bar for the pizzeria uses the ISA UP range and incorporates, on the front counter, a twelve-flavour ice cream display, a curved corner section, a refrigerated pastry display, and a bar service counter.  This has been specially designed to accept kegs of beer with dispense taps on the counter top and a coffee machine service point.

The back fittings include a refrigerated section with four glass doors and internal illumination for the display and service of chilled beers, wine, and soft drinks.  A sink and ice well are also incorporated.  The upper structure has glass shelves for storage and display, with a high level light box over the entire length.

The overall colour scheme is; coloured glass counter fronts and facing to light boxes; silver mirrors, clear glass shelves, bright stainless steel and chrome.  The overall size of the bar counter is 5.3 metres by 2.7 metres.

In line with its Ecology Project, all ISA’s new products are 100% HCFC-free, using eco-friendly gases in their refrigeration systems and HCFC-free polyurethane for insulation.

ISA (UK) is dedicated to supporting its customers and end-users in the UK, whether for single items or for complete projects.  The company offers not only comprehensive sales and technical support but also customises, delivers, installs and commissions equipment.  These services, together with maintenance programmes, are also available through an extensive dealer network.  The full range of ISA products and shop fittings are supplied exclusively in the UK through ISA (UK), the UK division of ISA S.p.A, Italy.

 Installation date: March 2009