“No, I haven’t taken a temperature check, but just take a look at my forehead”, says Frankie, the chef de partie at The Church Inn pub in Cheadle Hulme, as he wipes his brow. Professional kitchens are typically hot environments, but today, as temperatures in the UK passed 40C for the first time ever, chefs, kitchen porters and serving staff really felt the heat.
For many of us, the option to stay indoors with the windows closed, curtains drawn and fan whacked up to its highest setting, has provided some much-needed respite, but for the team at The Church Inn, it’s service as normal, which means “lots of water, ice lollies and plenty of breaks”. Frankie is joined behind the stoves by chef Halifa and kitchen porter Christina, who are, despite the unprecedented temperatures, in relatively good spirits.
“I mean it’s normally pretty hot in here, especially during the summer, but on days like today, you do feel it,” says Frankie. “It’s all fresh cooking so we have the stoves on all day and we’ve also got the heat lamps on the pass, so obviously that’s very hot anyway.
READ MORE: Restaurants and pubs across the city close on the hottest day of the year
“We do run around a bit here on a normal day but on days like today you have to slow it down and take a steadier pace - we’ll get through it though. Lunchtime is between 12 until around three, so that’s when we’re busy and then we’ve got a lull around three until five. So we can take a rest, have a sit, grab a bit of lunch, and plenty of water.”
The family-run pub and restaurant is Cheadle Hulme’s oldest pub and is a firm favourite with locals. During the summer of 2020 the pub expanded into its car park to create a covered beer garden and coffee shop, allowing them to keep operating during successive lockdowns.
Unsurprisingly, today the beer garden is busy as usual, with punters making the most of the hot weather. Inside, it’s a different picture, with just the pub’s bar and kitchen staff milling around and trying to keep cool.
Out on the floor, manager Jason is steering the ship, with the help of bar staff Amy, Bella and Frederika.
“Unfortunately I think it’s nothing out of the ordinary for them in the kitchen, working in very hot temperatures. It should be back to normal tomorrow and a little more bearable for them, which is much better.
"I wouldn't say closing the pub was considered mainly because we've got a good group of regulars and it's a place for people to come, and grab a drink to keep cool. It's less about the business benefit and more about it being a place where people feel they can come to.
"In terms of staff safety and kitchen temperatures, it's making sure staff are hydrated and we've also got lots of ventilation and fans on to keep them nice and cool."
Going forward, Jason believes that they may need to invest in air conditioning inside if temperatures like today are going to become a more regular occurrence. "We are going to be altering the marquee as well to make it more of a permeant structure as well, so if we need to incorporate air conditioning into that as well, that's something we'll look into.
"We haven't had any bookings for today, but we have already had lots of walk-ins already, by the look of things like things are cooling off so we do have some bookings for later on, but it does look like we've been affected by the temperatures.
"In terms of staff safety it's making sure people aren't working too long shifts, we're making sure they're taking breaks and we've also got some ice lollies and things like that in the back for staff and making sure they've got a drink at all times."
Amy, who’s pouring a pint as we speak, tells me she doesn’t think it’s too bad. "Honestly, it’s not as bad as a lot of people probably expect it to be, because you’re moving around and doing stuff, which distracts you from it, whereas if you’re just sat there not doing anything that’s the worst.
“It’s normally quite hot behind the bar anyway, and it’s more of an issue when there’s a few of you behind the bar in the evenings actually, that’s pretty hot because we’re running past each other and trying to serve people. It’s really not that bad, you just sort of acclimatise to it - I think it’s more when you go outside, that it feels like you’re going into a sauna.”
Cue Bella, who’s just come inside after manning the coffee shop and beer garden. Her glasses keep slipping off her face and she’s brought a spare change of clothes just in case.
Both have been working throughout the hot temperatures over the past week, so they’re quite accustomed to it. They’ve also brought the blender down from upstairs to make frappes - “I didn’t have any breakfast before I came in this morning so I’ve just been making loads of cold coffees,” smiles Amy.
“But it’s nice you get to chat to people, everyone’s outside, people are in a good mood because the sun’s out, they’re having a beer. “It’s better than when it’s miserable outside, today is a nice day to actually get out and do something.”
Keeping the beer cool is an issue, but as Jason says, there’s only so much they can do. “Robinsons sent an email just saying keep an eye out on the machinery and the coolers, but unfortunately this is unprecedented, they’re probably not built to deal with this sort of heat.
“Even the glasses at the back here that aren’t being used, they’re pretty warm, so when Amy’s going to pour the pint, she’s pouring a pint from a warm glass,” he says. “There’s not much we can do in terms of keeping the glasses cool because they’re just out on the shelves.”
Back in the kitchen, Christina is taking a quick break from the kitchen. “It was really hot yesterday too, so I’ve got lots of fans on me today, because otherwise it’s just not possible to work. “Today though, I think this is the warmest it’s ever been in here.
“We’re drinking plenty of water, and the girls are bringing over lots of soda and ice.” For staff member Frederika, who is originally from Bergamo in Italy, she’s sure she’s felt hotter though. “Yeah it’s hot, but not that hot, it’s hot like this in May at home.
Though, as she concedes, there is usually a bit of breeze and that she’s probably more accustomed to these temperatures than her colleagues. It should come as some great relief to rest of the team at The Church Inn that temperatures are expected to drop back to the low 20s tomorrow, but sure enough, they'll be back behind the pass and the bar with a smile as always, and as Frankie says, "just getting through it."
Get the latest What's On news - from food and drink to music and nightlife - straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
-
Inside the hit Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant opening in Manchester this weekend
-
Manchester Piccadilly to get first fish and chip shop on station approach
-
Hit Leeds ramen restaurant House of Fu is heading to Manchester
-
Heaton Park's popular Lakeside Domes where you can dine in the park are back for summer
-
Insults with your burger? A sweary night out at Karen’s Diner where the service is the pits
