Who carried out the joinery installation at Wellington College V&A Café?

CJ Joinery Contracts delivered the £60k install-only joinery package for Cardinal Project Management.

What work did CJ Joinery complete?

The package included bespoke counters, Corian worktops, acoustic timber wall panels, faux brick wall panels, food-service joinery, skirtings, doorsets and detailed fitted joinery.

What was the main challenge?

The wider project experienced delays after poor subfloor conditions were uncovered during strip-out, leaving CJ with a compressed installation programme.

How did CJ recover the programme?

The team worked weekends, overtime and longer days while coordinating closely with the project manager and other trades.

What stood out about CJ's performance?

The quality of finish on high-end materials such as Corian worktops and decorative brick-effect wall panels, despite the tight recovery programme.

Where is Wellington College?

Wellington College is in Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Case Study / Commercial

Wellington College V&A Café, Crowthorne

Delivering a high-end café fit-out to a tight recovery programme

Crowthorne, Berkshire

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Commercial

Project overview

The V&A Café sits at the heart of Wellington College and was refurbished to create a contemporary all-day food and social destination for pupils and staff. The revamped café reopened in November 2023 and now operates as a high-capacity, flexible dining and social space within the College campus.

CJ Joinery worked as an installation specialist within the wider refurbishment, handling a varied package of bespoke joinery and high-end finishes while the overall programme was under pressure following delays caused by poor subfloor conditions discovered during strip-out.

Key figures

£60k
CJ Joinery package: £2.5m
Wider project value: 50m² approx.
Acoustic timber wall panels: 30m approx.
Coffee / energy bar and front counter: 120m approx.
Skirting: Install only
CJ package: Weekend & overtime working
Used to recover programme: 2023
V&A Café reopened

Scope of Works

Scope of works

CJ Joinery delivered an install-only package valued at £60k. Key works included:

Installation of heritage-style faux brick wall panels
Installation of approximately 50m² of acoustic timber wall panelling
Installation of the coffee / energy bar and front counter, approximately 30 linear metres
Installation of Corian worktops and other high-end finished surfaces
Installation of faux planters including associated metalwork
Installation of salad / deli bar joinery
Installation of hot food bar joinery
Installation of soup and hydration station
Approximately 120m of skirting
Doorsets and associated ironmongery
Fireplace surround and integrated log store
Formation of openings associated with M&E extraction works

The Challenge

The challenge

The main challenge was programme pressure. Delays elsewhere in the refurbishment followed the discovery of poor subfloor conditions during strip-out, reducing the time available for the joinery installation package.

CJ was then working with detailed bespoke items and premium finishes, including Corian worktops and decorative brick-effect wall panels, where rushing the installation could easily have compromised the final appearance.

Our Approach

Our approach

CJ worked closely with Cardinal Project Management and the wider site team to recover lost time without lowering the standard of finish. The team increased its working hours and used weekends, overtime and longer days to keep the joinery package moving.

Particular strengths included:

Extended working hours to recover programme delays
Weekend working when required to maintain progress
Careful handling and installation of high-end materials
Close setting-out control to bespoke counters and fitted joinery
Regular coordination with the project manager and other trades
Maintaining finish quality despite the compressed programme

Outcome

CJ Joinery completed its installation works to the required programme despite the earlier delays affecting the wider refurbishment.

The standout result was the quality of finish achieved across the bespoke joinery and premium materials. Corian worktops, specialist counters, faux brick wall panels and decorative fitted elements were installed to a high standard while the team simultaneously worked extended hours to recover time.

The project demonstrates CJ Joinery Contracts' ability to deliver high-end commercial joinery package work where presentation, detail and programme recovery are all critical.