Overview
When owner Bobby Corrin began planning the refurbishment of the Riverbank Bar and Grill -one of Shrewsbury’s best-loved riverside dining venues—he saw the opportunity to replace the ageing gas-fired air handling unit (AHU) with a modern, energy-efficient air conditioning system capable of delivering both heating and cooling.
The restaurant is located in Shrewsbury’s busy Victoria Quay, a former working quay, which was redeveloped in the 1990s and is now an area for leisure and recreation.
As the restaurant needed to stay open throughout the refurbishment, the project had to be carefully phased and executed with minimal disruption. Working within a characterful and challenging building with industrial heritage, our team delivered a futureproof air conditioning solution while supporting the wider fit-out programme and maintaining continuity of business for the client.
Project Requirements
Replace outdated gas AHU with a high-efficiency, all-electric HVAC solution
Enable full restaurant operation throughout works
Coordinate works with shopfitters and refurbishment contractors
Navigate access constraints at a tight riverside site
Maintain aesthetics within a sympathetically refurbished interior
Plan for a weather-sensitive crane lift during a period of high winds
Phased Installation to Maintain Business Operation
To ensure uninterrupted trading, the installation team structured the works in two distinct phases:
Phase 1 – First Floor Renovation
The first-floor dining space was prioritised, allowing the Riverbank to continue trading downstairs. We retrofitted the new Mitsubishi cassette systems into the existing building structure, carefully routing pipework, electrics, and condensate drainage to maintain the integrity and appearance of the newly refurbished space.
Phase 2 – Ground Floor Renovation
Once the upstairs was completed and reopened, we moved to the ground floor installation, repeating the process with minimal disruption to operations and the ongoing shopfitting works.
Our project team worked closely with the restaurant management and the refurbishment contractor to ensure smooth handovers between phases.
Technical Specification
The installed system comprised 8 × Mitsubishi Compact Cassettes, 4 on the ground floor and 4 on the first floor. Each unit provides 6 kW heating and cooling which supplies 23.7 kW heating or cooling per floor.
Compact units 600 × 600 mm were chosen for seamless integration into the interior.
Outside the building 4 × Mitsubishi Outdoor Units were installed in a twin-split configuration in order to reduce the number of external units to four for improved aesthetics
Controls were wall mounted on each floor, enabling simple independent control and ensuring the air conditioning system delivers even, balanced comfort throughout each dining area.
Complex Site Logistics & Crane Lift Management
With limited access to the rear courtyard and neighbouring businesses located close to the site, equipment delivery required careful logistical planning. Our team coordinated with local businesses, site management and suppliers to ensure a smooth and disruption-free process.
A crane lift was required to position the external units safely—but an imminent storm front presented a scheduling challenge. Working proactively, the project team monitored weather conditions closely, adjusted the lift date, and ensured all safety protocols were met without delaying the wider refurbishment programme.
The result was a smooth, well-coordinated and communicated operation with little inconvenience to neighbouring businesses.
Outcome
The Riverbank Bar and Grill now benefits from significantly improved energy efficiency and lower running costs together with:
Fast, responsive heating and cooling across both floors
A reliable, future-proofed system that supports the business for years to come
Improved comfort for customers and staff, enhancing the dining experience
Client Bobby Corrin is delighted with both the performance of the new system and the professionalism of the installation. He commented, “The new air conditioning has transformed the comfort of the restaurant and reduced our energy usage. The installation team from Cool Services managed everything brilliantly from start to finish.”
A Strong Solution for Shopfitters & Refurbishment Professionals
This project demonstrates how modern HVAC systems can be seamlessly integrated into sensitive refurbishment environments—even within heritage or structurally challenging buildings—and how phased installation can keep a commercial venue fully operational during major works.
Our team is experienced in collaborating with shopfitters, interior designers, and refurbishment contractors, providing professionally managed HVAC upgrades that align perfectly with wider project schedules.
If you’d like support on your next refurbishment project, we’re here to help.