Live Demo Kitchen | Modular Scenic Build | Overhead PTZ Cameras | Creative Lighting | Multi-Screen Playback | Integrated Plumbing | Stage & Bar Are
Background
Each year, HRC (Hotel, Restaurant & Catering) showcases the best of the hospitality industry at ExCeL London. For 2025, Chef HQ returned as a headline arena, this time with a renewed vision: to create a kitchen that wasn’t just functional, but inspirational. FIX8Group was appointed to design and deliver the entire Chef HQ experience a central hub for live cooking demos, panels, and talks, featuring top culinary names like Alain Roux, Tom Kitchin, and Louisa Ellis. This was not a standard kitchen build. It needed to blend high-performance functionality with a polished, premium look suitable for live broadcast, in-venue audiences, and headline talent.
Challenge
This year’s brief raised the bar significantly. The kitchen needed to operate like areal culinary space, fully equipped, safe, and streamlined for live performance, while also acting as a visual showpiece.
There were several major constraints:
Tight installation timeframes and limited access at ExCeL London
A need for high visibility, with detailed action viewable from multiple audience angles
A balance between premium aesthetics and true kitchen utility, including plumbing, storage, and workstations
Integrating AV, lighting, and scenic design without overwhelming the clean kitchen feel
Solution
FIX8Group took a collaborative, design-first approach backed by meticulous pre-production and technical integration.
Key components included:
Detailed 3D visuals and CAD planning to guide layout, lighting, and flow
A modular aluminium walling system, clad in branded tension fabric graphics
Fully integrated kitchen joinery, plumbing, and storage for real chef functionality
Fully integrated kitchen joinery, plumbing, and storage for real chef functionality
Creative lighting using Astera tubes, Hydra panels, and uplighters for depth and mood dedicated bar and interaction zone, encouraging informal chef engagement
A dedicated bar and interaction zone, encouraging informal chef engagement
In-house delivery of all production elements, including power distribution, H&S compliance, and project management on site
Despite the demanding install environment, the suite was delivered on time, on brief,and to a high professional standard drawing immediate praise from organisers and talent.
Conclusion
The Chef HQ Kitchen became the centrepiece of the HRC 2025 show, striking a perfect balance between form and function. It empowered top chefs to deliver their best while providing audiences with a seamless, engaging experience.
The project stands as a prime example of FIX8Group’s ability to fuse scenic design, technical production, and creative storytelling, all while handling high-pressure delivery windows with calm expertise.
Client Testimonial
“We’ve had the pleasure of working with FIX8 for the past three years on our CHEF HQ feature at HRC – the UK’s largest hospitality event – and we honestly couldn’t ask for a better partner.From concept to full design, build, sound and vision, FIX8 have delivered outstanding results year after year. Harrison and Ben are exceptional – nothing is ever too much trouble, and they genuinely go above and beyond.What sets them apart is their passion for new technology and creative ways to enhance the space. So many people told us it was the best-looking stand at HRC – entirely down to their vision, energy, and expertise.FIX8 have been an integral part of CHEF HQ’s success – talented, dependable, and a pleasure to work with.” — Martyn Keen, Managing Director, Chef Publishing Ltd
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