Restaurant kitchen

A restaurant kitchen is a commercial food preparation area producing meals for sale to diners, with significantly higher drainage loads than domestic kitchens. Across Greater London, restaurant kitchens are concentrated in West End (Westminster), Camden, Hackney (Shoreditch, Dalston) and along high streets in every borough. Drainage characteristics include a grease management device (grease trap or biological dosing unit), trade effluent connection requiring Thames Water consent, multi-bowl sinks, glass washers and dishwashers, and high-temperature wastewater from cooking equipment. Common issues include grease blockages downstream of the trap, fats poured directly to drain bypassing the trap, and silt build-up from vegetable preparation sinks. Restaurants should arrange scheduled grease trap servicing, train staff in fats and oils disposal, and hold trade effluent consent paperwork ready for inspection.