Birmingham City Football Club purchased the training facilities of Wasps Rugby Football Club in September 2021 to provide additional training facilities for their Women’s and Youth teams. This training ground, located in Henley-in-Arden, became the primary training site for all sections of the club after a fire broke out at their existing Wast Hills training ground in South Birmingham.
The Wast Hills Training Ground has been a significant part of Birmingham City FC’s history. Located in Birmingham, it served as the club’s primary training facility for many years. However, following the severe fire in March 2023 and the extensive damage it caused to the facility, it led to the sites closure and all training activities were relocated to the Wasps ground in Henley-in-Arden to allow for the refurbishment of the Wast Hills site. This included updating the changing rooms, kitchen, dining facility, and offices. The Wasps facility, having been recently updated before the purchase, offered modern and up-to-date amenities compared to the original Wast Hills site.
Birmingham City Football Club, affectionately known as the “Blues,” has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance. Over the years, the club underwent several name changes, becoming Small Heath in 1888, Birmingham in 1905, and finally Birmingham City in 1943.
The club’s early years saw them as founding members of the Football League Second Division, where they achieved their first championship in 1892–93. Birmingham City enjoyed its most successful period in the 1950s and early 1960s, finishing sixth in the First Division in the 1955–56 season and reaching the FA Cup final in 1956.
Birmingham City also made history as the first English club to reach a major European final, competing in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup finals in 1960 and 1961. The club has won the League Cup twice, in 1963 and 2011.
Their home ground, St. Andrew’s, has been their base since 1906 and was renamed St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park in 2024 for sponsorship reasons. The club has a fierce rivalry with Aston Villa, known as the Second City derby.
As part of our role, commissioned by Intex Interiors, we were tasked with reviewing the kitchens at Birmingham City Football Club’s Henley-in-Arden site. Our aim was to replicate its modern facilities at Wast Hills. During our visit, we had the opportunity to consult with the head chef, who had relocated to the new site. This collaboration gave us invaluable insights into the equipment already in use and the chef’s vision for the revamped facility.
Using the chef’s input, we identified the ideal equipment and manufacturers for the project. Our challenge was to incorporate this equipment within the constraints of the existing kitchen footprint while making necessary layout modifications. It was important to us to maintain the same high operational standards once the refurbishment was completed.
There wasn’t a set menu in place, so we based our design on the types of food being served at the training facility. Ample storage and practical food displays were critical needs, which is why we proposed a multi-use servery counter. Features such as a hot top and cold frost top allowed for different meal offerings in the mornings and afternoons, offering greater flexibility.
Though the space was exceptionally tight, we worked hard to meet the chef’s equipment requirements. While we had to advise that some pieces of equipment simply couldn’t fit, we managed to include nearly everything they needed. To make the most of the available space, we introduced refrigerated chef’s drawers under the cook suite, an addition they hadn’t previously considered. We also suggested incorporating hot and cold plates to provide multi-use flexibility, which they found appealing. Similarly, variable temperature drawers under the cook suite proved to be a popular feature, accommodating the need to serve a variety of foods.
As a training facility, the players’ specific dietary requirements—high in protein, including prawns and certain meats—shaped much of our equipment selection. We ensured that the kitchen setup was tailored to handle these foods effectively.
Overall, this project involved careful planning, close collaboration, and innovative problem-solving to deliver a functional and modern kitchen that met Birmingham City FC’s needs.
During the refurbishment of Wast Hills, although closed to the men’s team it remained operational for youth team training, while men’s training was relocated to Henley-in-Arden. Intex incorporated temporary changing rooms and essential facilities to keep the pitches functional.
Access to the site proved to be a bit challenging due to its operational status. We had to navigate around parked cars and other vehicles in the car park. Thankfully, designated areas for access and deliveries were cordoned off, which helped reduce complications. However, moving equipment into the kitchens presented another challenge. Given the building’s older structure, we had to identify alternate routes to bring equipment inside. Some pieces, due to narrow doorways, required lifting over a small hatch to gain access.
Given the building’s existing infrastructure, we had to work around certain limitations, like the inability to upgrade the size of the distribution board. This meant some equipment had to remain gas-powered, although electric combination ovens were still incorporated.
The client also requested large troughs for floor washing, which added complexity to the design process due to the already tight kitchen space. To address this, we coordinated the placement of the troughs with the location of the kitchen island. This request came after the original designs had been approved, requiring adjustments to the project timeline. Intex had to excavate the floor to install drainage channels that could accommodate the troughs.
Additionally, as we included roller shutters on the servery counter within our package, we had to collaborate with the contractor to ensure the steels were correctly placed to support the shutters.
Our coordination process involved a combination of online Teams meetings and face-to-face discussions on-site. This approach was especially critical when finalising the locations for the floor channels and steels for the roller shutters. These elements required precise planning, as any deviations could have led to significant issues for everyone involved in the project. It was essential to ensure that all details were fully coordinated and clearly understood to facilitate a seamless installation.
Our Design Manager, Steve Mills, played a key role in these discussions. His involvement ensured that all requirements were accurately interpreted and integrated into our designs. This collaborative effort allowed us to align with the project’s expectations and deliver a solution that met the client’s needs.
By maintaining strong communication and attention to detail, we were able to prevent potential challenges and ensure the project progressed smoothly.
During the first fix phase, we focused on the installation of the canopy and cold room, which were critical components of the kitchen infrastructure. This stage was completed in preparation for the next phase, which included the contractor finishing the mechanical, electrical, and building works. Once these essential tasks were finalised, we moved forward with the installation of the kitchen and kitchen servery.
Our responsibilities extended beyond the kitchen, as we also installed the front-of-house servery. This area was carefully designed to include a refuse and recycling point, providing a convenient and organised solution for waste management. Additionally, a security shutter was also installed, ensuring the area was secure and in line with operational needs.
The installation process ran smoothly, largely due to our thorough planning and anticipation of potential challenges. One of the main logistical obstacles was navigating the narrow doorways of the building, a common issue with older structures. We had to think creatively and strategically about how to move equipment into the space. Some larger pieces required careful handling, including lifting them through an alternate route involving a hatch, as the primary doorways could not accommodate the width of certain items.
Thanks to these meticulous preparations, we were able to complete the installation without any unforeseen issues. This attention to detail ensured that all equipment was properly positioned and that both the kitchen and front-of-house areas met the functional and aesthetic expectations of the project.
Dates were coordinated with the customer and catering staff to arrange training for the equipment. We used the services of Macintosh for delivering the majority of the equipment training, with additional sessions conducted by Rational and Falcon around a week later, as requested, to align with the site’s readiness to go live. As part of standard practice, all manuals and commissioning certificates were provided prior to the handover, ensuring a smooth transition.
The updated facility is now fully modernised and equipped with state-of-the-art features designed to function efficiently as a training ground. It stands ready to support professional footballers and their development for many years to come.
