Vagabond Wines

The construction of the Vagabond Southdown’s island bar airside at Gatwick Airport presented a unique set of challenges and requirements, demanding meticulous planning, innovative solutions, and adherence to strict regulations. From working within restricted environments to meeting tight deadlines, this project encapsulates the complexities of building within a highly regulated and operational airport setting.

Difficulty Working Airside:
One of the primary challenges of this project revolves around the logistics of working airside at Gatwick. Airside construction required stringent security clearances, specialised training, and adherence to strict safety procedures to ensure minimal disruption to airport operations. Every individual and piece of equipment/fabrication/material and tools had to undergo thorough security checks (via third party specialist airside logistics partner), adding layers of complexity to the construction process to mitigate potential disruptions and ensure smooth progress. 

Out of Hours Work:
To minimise disruption to airport operations, much of the construction work had to be conducted during out-of-hours periods. This necessitated careful scheduling of items with third parties and coordination to maximise productivity within limited time frames. Advance had to draw on additional resources, whilst trying to mitigate rising costs of working airside for the good of the client’s budget.

Noise Restriction:
Maintaining a quiet environment was paramount during working airside to avoid disrupting flight operations and passenger experience. As such, noise restrictions presented a significant challenge for the build of Vagabond Southdown’s island for our install team and onsite fabricators.

Tight Time Frame:
The project’s tight time frame compounded the challenges associated with airside construction. With limited windows of opportunity for work, meticulous scheduling and efficient resource allocation were imperative to meet Vagabonds deadlines. Any delays or setbacks would have had cascading effects on the entire project timeline, which would be expensive on the build and more importantly a loss of trade.

Circular Designed Bar:
The circular design of the bar added a layer of complexity to the construction process, requiring precise measurements, specialised materials, and skilled craftsmanship. Building a circular structure demanded attention to detail to ensure all catering equipment and custom fabrication fitted seamlessly with the builders joinery. To streamline the construction process and minimize on-site disruption, all aspects of the bar, including fabrication, joinery, and services, were constructed off-site. Prefabrication allowed for greater control over quality, reduced on-site labour requirements, and accelerated installation timelines.

Limited Storage Space:
The constrained environment airside imposed limitations on available storage space for construction materials and equipment. Efficient utilisation of space, a just-in-time delivery strategy, and modular construction techniques were essential to optimise storage and minimise clutter.