A Stannah Microlift 50B bottom drive service lift (dumbwaiter) has updated service in the Mermaid Street Café, part of the Old Borough Arms, a recently refurbished, Grade II listed guest house in Rye, East Sussex.

The Microlift 50B dumb waiter transports food, crockery and more, at a speed of 0.35 m/s between the tea rooms’ servery and 1st floor kitchen in the main body of the Old Borough Arms, a distance of 2730mm. With waist-height lift entrances to fit with serving levels it ensures staff safety whilst improving service efficiency.

Supplied in a galvanised, structure-supported frame, the dumb waiter does not require a separate motor room or load-bearing lift shaft. The motor unit is located at the bottom of the shaft, which allows installation where headroom is restricted – one of the deciding factors for specifying a Stannah Microlift 50B, as Tim Duffie, Director of Manning Duffie Architects, explains:

“With limited headroom and the restrictions associated with a Grade II listed building, the service lift had to be bottom drive. Other deciding factors included the Microlift 50B’s through-car capability, as the café servery and the kitchen openings are on opposite sides; and our previous work with Stannah Lifts – we know we can trust their products, installation and after-care service.”

Housed within an 830mm x 800mm shaft, the dumbwaiter car is constructed in mild steel and finished in grey baked-enamel (RAL 7038), with a stainless steel base and a removable stainless steel shelf to enable easy cleaning. An intercom supports the lift’s operational efficiency.