Serco x Maidstone Leisure Project
When Serco sought a partner to refurbish its catering offer across a portfolio of leisure centres, it approached Nebrak.
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Project Overview
At busy leisure centres, the café often becomes more than somewhere to buy food and drink. It’s where families regroup after swimming lessons, friends catch up over coffee, and visitors take a break between activities. The environment needs to support all of those moments while remaining practical for operators managing changing visitor numbers throughout the day.
When Serco looked to refurbish the catering facilities at Maidstone Leisure Centre, the objective wasn’t simply to modernise the space. It was to create a refreshment environment that improved customer flow, retained valuable seating capacity and delivered a better experience for both visitors and staff.
Nebrak was appointed to design, manufacture and install a bespoke catering interior that balanced operational efficiency with a welcoming, contemporary feel.
The Brief
The existing café had gradually become disconnected, with separate vending, refrigeration and serving areas creating unnecessary bottlenecks during busy periods. Navigation wasn’t always intuitive, while the layout made it difficult for customers to move naturally through the space.
At the same time, maintaining seating capacity was essential. The café needed to serve more people more efficiently without reducing the number of places for visitors to sit and relax.
The project also required existing equipment to be incorporated wherever possible, helping Serco maximise previous investment while minimising unnecessary replacement costs.
The Solution
Rather than treating each element individually, Nebrak approached the café as one connected customer journey.
The redesigned layout brings together the serve-over counter, vending equipment, refrigeration and seating into a single, cohesive environment. Customers can now move naturally through the space, reducing congestion and improving visibility across every refreshment zone.
By carefully planning the footprint, the team was able to improve operational flow while preserving valuable seating, demonstrating that better customer experiences don’t always require more space, just smarter use of it.
The finished café feels brighter, more open and better connected to the wider leisure centre, creating an environment that encourages visitors to stay a little longer before or after their activities.
Behind the Build
This project was delivered using Nebrak’s complete in-house service, including:
- Project design
- Furniture manufacture
- Print and branding production
- Logistics coordination
- Professional installation
Managing the project from concept through to completion ensured consistency throughout the build and provided a single point of contact for the client.
Durasein Textured White solid surface was specified for the worktops and splashbacks, providing a seamless, hygienic surface capable of withstanding frequent cleaning and the demands of a busy public venue.
- Durasein Triartic DM3021
Good material choices aren’t simply about appearance. They influence how an environment performs every day.
EGGER decorative boards were selected to introduce warmth, texture and durability, combining the richness of Tobacco Gladstone Oak and Vicenza Oak with Indigo Blue accents to create a contemporary hospitality feel that complements the wider leisure environment.
The café furniture was chosen to reinforce the welcoming atmosphere while providing the durability required in a high-footfall leisure environment.
Contemporary dining tables, benches and pouffes introduce flexibility into the seating area, allowing individuals, families and groups to use the space comfortably throughout the day. Rather than feeling separate from the café, the furniture helps create a destination where visitors can pause, recharge and spend time together.
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
From initial briefing and site survey to design and installation, we work with you every step of the way to deliver a tailored solution.
EXPERT IN-HOUSE TEAM
Our designers, joiners, and installers collaborate closely to ensure a smooth process and a high-quality finish.
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS
From remodelling existing spaces to designing from scratch, we create cost-effective solutions that make the most of your environment.
Project Installation Gallery
All images shown are from a real Nebrak project delivered for Serco at Maidstone Leisure Centre.
Project Highlights
Bespoke leisure centre café refurbishment
Improved customer flow and service efficiency
Existing equipment successfully integrated
Commercial-grade decorative boards and solid surfaces
Contemporary seating and hospitality environment
Design, manufacture and installation by Nebrak
Every Great Visitor Experience Has a Place to Pause
Whether it’s parents waiting for swimming lessons to finish, friends meeting after a workout or visitors grabbing a coffee before heading home, refreshment spaces play an important role in the overall leisure experience.
Nebrak designs and delivers bespoke café interiors and refreshment environments that feel welcoming, perform every day and stand up to the demands of busy public spaces.
If you’re planning your next leisure project, we’d love to help.
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