The UK temporary kitchen market splits into two distinct segments: domestic (for homeowners) and commercial (for businesses, schools, hospitals, and other organisations). While both provide a working kitchen in a temporary unit, they differ in almost every other respect. This guide explains the differences so you choose the right one.
The Fundamental Difference
Domestic temporary kitchens are designed to replicate your home kitchen. They sit on your driveway, connect to your home utilities, and are equipped with domestic-grade appliances. You cook for your household, just as you normally would.
Commercial temporary kitchens are designed to replicate a professional catering kitchen. They're equipped with commercial-grade ovens, extraction systems, dishwashers, and preparation areas. They can produce hundreds or even thousands of meals per day and must comply with food safety regulations.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Domestic | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | Homeowners, families | Restaurants, schools, hospitals, construction sites, events |
| Meals per day | Up to 10–15 people | 100–1,000+ |
| Unit types | Driveway pods, indoor capsules | Modular cabins, trailers, containers, linked units |
| Equipment | Domestic hob, oven, fridge, microwave | Commercial ovens, combi steamers, fryers, blast chillers |
| Extraction | Basic or none | Full commercial extraction with grease filtration |
| Power | Single-phase (13A–32A) | 3-phase (63A–125A+) |
| Water | Mains domestic supply | High-flow supply, often with filtration |
| Drainage | Standard household drain | Commercial waste drainage, grease traps |
| Floor space | 6–20 sq metres | 15–100+ sq metres |
| Compliance | Minimal | HACCP, EHO inspection, fire safety, Gas Safe |
| Hire cost (monthly) | £800–£2,400 | £2,500–£15,000+ |
| Installation time | 2–4 hours | 1–3 days |
| Typical hire duration | 2–16 weeks | 4 weeks to 12+ months |
| Planning permission | Rarely needed | Usually required |
| Insurance claims | Common (home insurance) | Less common (business insurance) |
Domestic Temporary Kitchen: In Detail
Who Needs One?
- Homeowners renovating their kitchen
- Families dealing with kitchen damage (flood, fire) covered by insurance
- Anyone who needs to cook at home while the main kitchen is out of action
What's Included?
A typical domestic pod includes:
- 2 or 4-burner hob (gas or electric)
- Oven and/or microwave
- Fridge or fridge-freezer
- Sink with hot and cold water
- Worktop space
- Lighting, power sockets, and heating
- Weatherproof, insulated shell
Premium pods may add dishwashers, extractor fans, USB ports, and premium appliances.
How Much Does It Cost?
- Weekly rate: £250–£700
- Monthly rate: £800–£2,400
- Delivery and collection: £150–£350
- Total for 8-week hire: £2,500–£6,000
Key Providers
Temporary Solutions Group, Kitchen Rescue, GalleyKit, Galleys, and many regional providers.
Commercial Temporary Kitchen: In Detail
Who Needs One?
- Schools during kitchen refurbishments
- Hospitals and care homes during building works
- Restaurants during refits or expansion
- Construction sites needing worker catering
- Events, festivals, and outdoor catering operations
- Any organisation that needs to maintain food service during disruption
What's Included?
A typical commercial unit includes:
- Commercial ovens (convection, combi-steamer, or both)
- Industrial hobs and fryers
- Commercial dishwasher
- Stainless steel preparation surfaces
- Walk-in or reach-in refrigeration
- Full extraction system with grease filtration and carbon filtration
- Handwash stations
- Hot and cold running water with appropriate flow rates
- 3-phase electrical distribution
- Fire suppression system
How Much Does It Cost?
- Weekly rate: £750–£4,000+
- Monthly rate: £2,500–£15,000+
- Delivery, installation, groundwork: £3,000–£10,000+
- Total for 12-week school refurbishment: £20,000–£45,000
Key Providers
PKL Group, The Kitchen Hire Company, Mobile Kitchens Ltd, and other specialist commercial providers.
Can a Domestic Provider Serve Commercial Clients?
Generally, no. Domestic temporary kitchen providers supply units designed for home use. These units:
- Don't have commercial-grade extraction (required by law for commercial cooking)
- Don't have the cooking capacity for high-volume meal production
- May not meet HACCP requirements for commercial food service
- Don't have 3-phase power capability
Some edge cases exist — a very small café or a home-based catering business might be able to use a domestic pod temporarily. But for any regulated food business, a commercial unit is the correct choice.
Can a Commercial Provider Serve Domestic Clients?
Yes, but it's usually overkill and overpriced. Some commercial providers will supply smaller units for domestic use, but:
- The cost is typically 2–3x higher than a specialist domestic provider
- The units are larger and heavier than needed
- Installation is more complex than necessary
- You're paying for commercial features you don't need
Stick with a domestic specialist for home use. The equipment is better suited, the cost is lower, and the experience is optimised for homeowners.
Making Your Decision
The decision is usually straightforward:
- Cooking for your household at home? → Domestic provider
- Running a food business or institutional catering? → Commercial provider
- Insurance claim for home kitchen damage? → Domestic provider (insurance-ready)
- School, hospital, or care home? → Commercial provider
- Event or festival? → Commercial provider
- Construction site welfare? → Commercial provider
Browse all providers on FindAKitchen and use the market filter to see only domestic or commercial providers.