You have booked your temporary kitchen and delivery day is approaching. If you have never had a kitchen pod delivered before, you are probably wondering what actually happens.
This guide covers everything — from preparing your driveway to the moment you cook your first meal in the pod.
Before Delivery Day
1. Confirm the Details
A few days before delivery, your provider should confirm:
- Delivery date and time window — most providers give a morning or afternoon slot rather than an exact time.
- Access requirements — confirm your driveway is accessible for their delivery vehicle.
- What you need to have ready — typically an outdoor tap, a power socket, and a clear driveway.
If you have not heard from your provider 2 days before delivery, contact them to confirm.
2. Prepare Your Driveway
On the day before delivery:
- Move your car — the delivery vehicle needs access to your driveway, and the pod will be positioned where your car usually sits.
- Clear obstacles — move bins, bikes, plant pots, children's toys, and anything else from the driveway.
- Check overhead clearance — if you have overhanging trees, washing lines, or low cables, let your provider know in advance.
- Check width — the delivery vehicle is typically a flatbed truck or a large van with a trailer. Make sure it can physically fit on your street and turn into your driveway.
3. Locate Your Connections
Find these before the team arrives:
- Outdoor tap — usually on the side or back of your house. The provider will connect a hose from here to the pod. It should be within about 25 metres of where the pod will sit.
- Power socket — the pod plugs into a standard 13A socket. An outdoor socket is ideal, but the provider can run a cable through a window or door to an indoor socket if needed.
- Drain or gulley — waste water from the sink needs somewhere to go. A drain, gulley, manhole, or soakaway within about 10 metres of the pod is ideal. If yours is further away or uphill, let your provider know at booking.
What Happens on Delivery Day
The Truck Arrives
The delivery team will typically arrive with the pod on a flatbed truck or a large trailer. The team is usually 2 people.
They will:
- Assess the driveway and confirm the best position for the pod.
- Unload the pod — this is usually done by sliding it off the trailer onto the driveway. Some providers use a small crane or mechanical lift. Others use a manual rolling technique.
- Position the pod where you want it. You can usually choose the exact spot, as long as it is level and accessible.
Levelling
Your driveway is probably not perfectly level — most are not. The team will:
- Use a spirit level to check the pod is flat.
- Adjust the pod's legs or use packing (wooden blocks or plastic shims) to level it.
- This is important because the fridge needs to be level to work properly, and water needs to drain correctly from the sink.
Connecting Water
The team will:
- Run a food-grade hose from your outdoor tap to the pod's water inlet.
- Secure the connections with hose clips.
- Turn on the tap and check for leaks.
- Test the hot water (the pod has its own water heater — either electric or gas).
Connecting Waste
The team will:
- Run a waste pipe from the pod's sink outlet to your nearest drain.
- Secure the pipe so it does not move or come loose.
- Test the drainage by running the tap for a minute.
Connecting Power
The team will:
- Plug the pod into your power socket using a standard 13A plug.
- If the socket is indoors, they will run the cable neatly through a window or door gap.
- Test that all electrical appliances power on correctly.
Gas (If Applicable)
Some pods use LPG gas for the hob and oven. If yours does:
- The team will connect a gas bottle (supplied by the provider).
- They will test all burners and the oven.
- They will show you how to change the gas bottle if it runs out during your hire.
Testing Everything
Before they leave, the team will test:
- Every hob burner
- The oven
- The microwave
- The fridge and freezer
- Hot and cold water from the sink
- The drainage
- Any additional appliances (washing machine, dishwasher)
- Lighting
- Heating (if the pod has it)
The Walkthrough
The team will walk you through:
- How to use each appliance
- Where the controls are (gas isolation valve, electrical switches, water shut-off)
- What to do if something goes wrong
- How to contact the provider for support
- Any care instructions (e.g. keeping the pod clean, locking up at night)
How Long Does Setup Take?
For a standard domestic driveway pod, the entire process — from the truck arriving to the team leaving — takes approximately 1 to 2 hours.
Commercial installations are more complex and may take half a day or longer, depending on the size of the unit and the connections required.
Your First Day With the Pod
Once the team has left, your temporary kitchen is ready to use immediately. Here are some tips for your first day:
- Do a test cook — make something simple to get used to the space and the appliances.
- Organise your supplies — bring over your most-used pots, pans, utensils, and ingredients. The pod has limited storage, so only bring what you need.
- Set up a routine — treat the pod like your normal kitchen. The more normal you make it, the less disruptive the renovation will feel.
- Lock up at night — most pods are lockable. Get in the habit of locking it when you go to bed and when you leave the house.
Common Questions
Will the pod damage my driveway?
No. Pods are designed to sit on driveways without causing damage. The weight is distributed across the base, and the levelling feet protect the surface. When the pod is collected, your driveway should look exactly as it did before.
What if it rains?
Pods are fully weatherproof — insulated walls, waterproof roof, sealed doors and windows. You will be dry, warm, and comfortable inside regardless of the weather.
What about winter?
Most pods come with built-in heating (either a thermostat-controlled electric heater or a gas heater). They are insulated to maintain a comfortable temperature even in cold weather. Some families report that the pod is warmer than their house during winter renovations.
Can I use the pod overnight?
The pod is a kitchen, not a sleeping space. But there is nothing stopping you from sitting in it in the evening — many families use the dining table in the pod for meals and homework.
What happens if something breaks?
Contact your provider. Most offer telephone support and will arrange a repair visit if needed. Common issues (like a gas bottle running out) are usually things you can fix yourself with the instructions provided.
Ready to Book?
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