Thames Valley University is dedicated to preparing students for employment by running a range of pre degree; undergraduate, postgraduate and professional courses where large emphasis is based on work experience placements. Campuses can be found in London (Ealing and Brentford), Reading and Slough.

Some of the university’s famous patrons include world-class chefs Brian Turner, Anthony Worrall-Thompson and Gary Rhodes.

Martek worked in conjunction with Ferro Design on this 260K project to transform the rundown restaurant into the ideal learning/dining environment. The newly designed Pillars restaurant is run by students and open to the public, offering guests an elegant dining experience whilst allowing students to learn the classical art of fine service, culinary skills, restaurant management, team building and time management.

The site was shut down to allow safe removal of asbestos within a controlled area. A stage area was built to divide the restaurant into two levels adding a new restaurant entrance leading onto the existing corridor; disabled access was also made available by a new ramp. Works also involved stripping out and rebuilding coffers, adding feature bulkheads, lighting, a complete new bar, lectern, glass balustrade, refaced doors, installation of roller shutters, radiator panels and back of house security.

A dividing wall system was introduced via a movable partition top hung track system from Style Doors, whereby the folding door can be deployed if necessary to close the bar area off from the restaurant. Philip Watts polished stainless steel porthole windows were installed within the panels to add some light and interest and to pick up design detail from other areas.

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