The Cellar Lift was originally developed in conjunction with Bass Brewers during the late 1980s to eliminate the need for manual handling and lifting which helped avoid accidents and injuries to draymen and other brewery employees and reduced damage to containers, cellars and associated infrastructure. The project was extremely successful and Cellar Lifts were installed in many of the brewer’s pubs. The company went through a number of changes in the 1990s culminating in the formation of the current Mitchells & Butlers business which now comprises more than 1600 restaurants and pubs in a brand portfolio which includes Vintage Inns, Nicholson’s, All Bar One, Crown Carveries, Harvester and Toby Carvery.Mitchells & Butlers, the leading operator of restaurants and pubs in the UK, has been using the Penny Hydraulics Cellar Lift to make beer deliveries simpler and safer for its employees for more than 20 years. From the first installation in 1989 to the most recent at the end of 2011 the company has continued to install a Cellar Lift whenever a premises requires beer barrels, containers and other loads to be handled between the delivery point and cellar. To mark the long-standing relationship Penny Hydraulics recently presented Michelle Fowler, Maintenance Service Manager at Mitchells & Butlers, with a specially engraved tankard.
With the development of its successful restaurant and pubs brands Mitchells & Butlers continues to recognise the benefits of efficient delivery for large volumes of food, drink and related items. For this reason the Cellar Lift continues to be the first choice delivery lift across the company’s estate. It currently operates more than 375 units with the most recent installation taking place last year at The Wellington, a Nicholson’s pub, located on The Strand in London. The oldest Cellar Lift in the estate can be found at the Blue Peter, a Crown Carvery in Alvaston, Derbyshire. This was in fact the very first Cellar Lift installed by Penny Hydraulics in 1989 and it has continued to provide reliable and robust performance for the past 22 years.
The Penny Hydraulics Cellar Lift is a unique handling device that is widely used in pubs and breweries to handle loads such as casks, containers and crates between cellars and bar or delivery areas. Items weighing up to 300kg, enough for a full 54 gallon barrel, are handled with control and precision with no need for manual handling, lifting or carrying. The Cellar Lift avoids the need to roll or drop a container or barrel into the cellar which reduces the risks to staff and bystanders. It also reduces the risk of damage to the load and the building, fixtures and fittings.
All Cellar Lifts are manufactured by Penny Hydraulics in the UK to the precise requirements of the specific location and customer. Vertical and sloping versions are available which ensures the device can be installed in almost any building or location, even where access is restricted or an existing concrete skid remains in place. The rapid lifting and lowering speed of 0.5m/s means that a typical 2.0 metre drop between the roadside and cellar is covered in just four seconds. A hold-to-run system cuts power and stops the lift whenever the user releases the control lever for optimum safety. Components are fully galvanised for durability in the most arduous conditions.
Penny Hydraulics provides support to Mitchells & Butlers through its nationwide team of service engineers to ensure that routine inspections, safety checks and maintenance tasks are carried out in line with an agreed schedule. The service engineers also provide cover to deal with any unexpected maintenance requirements.
