Frequently Asked Questions
1. General Cleaning & Staffing Services
What services does Mr Kitchen Porter provide?
Mr Kitchen Porter specialises exclusively in hospitality cleaning and back-of-house staffing. Our core services include:
Professional Kitchen Porters (temporary, long-term, and emergency cover)
Deep Kitchen Cleaning (including TR19-compliant extraction cleaning)
Dishwash & Pot-Wash Teams
All services are designed specifically for restaurants, hotels, pubs, event venues, and large-scale catering operations.
Do you work with restaurants, hotels, or both?
We work across the entire hospitality sector. Our clients include:
Independent restaurants
Michelin-level kitchens
Hotel groups
Contract caterers
Pubs and gastro-pubs
Event venues and stadium kitchens
Our operatives are trained to adapt to high-pressure, high-volume environments.
Do you offer one-off services or ongoing contracts?
We offer both. You can book:
A one-off kitchen porter shift
A single deep clean
A short-term cover solution
Or a long-term rolling contract
There is no obligation to commit long-term unless it suits your operation.
Can you provide emergency or last-minute cover?
Yes. Emergency cover is one of our key strengths. If a kitchen porter calls in sick or you experience an unexpected surge in volume, we can often deploy staff within hours, subject to availability and location.
Kitchen Porter Staffing
What exactly does a kitchen porter from Mr Kitchen Porter do?
A kitchen porter from Mr Kitchen Porter is different, all our kitchen are rigorously trained to ensure they never stand idle, work at speed when it's busy and finally to operate with limited supervision. They undertake activities including:
Dishwashing and pot washing
Maintaining hygiene in food prep areas
Bin rotation and waste management
Floor cleaning and spill control
Supporting chefs during service
End-of-shift kitchen resets
They work efficiently without disrupting kitchen flow.
Are your kitchen porters trained for professional kitchens?
Absolutely. All operatives are:
Experienced in commercial kitchens
Trained in food-safety awareness
Briefed on COSHH and hygiene standards
Familiar with fast-paced service environments
We do not send untrained or unsuitable staff into live kitchens.
Can the same kitchen porter return regularly?
Yes. For ongoing bookings, we prioritise consistency, sending the same staff wherever possible so they become familiar with your layout, equipment, and team culture. Same face, same face out.
Do your kitchen porters bring their own PPE?
Yes. Only for large restaurants and hotels. Our staff arrive with appropriate PPE including safety footwear, gloves, and protective clothing. If your site requires specific branded or specialist PPE, this can be arranged in advance.
2. How Much Does it cost to hire a Kitchen Porter?
How much does Mr Kitchen Porter charge for kitchen porter services?
Our 2025 kitchen porter services rates start from £18.95 per hour (reduced to £17.95 per hour during promotions). Final pricing depends on the shift type, time of day, location, and whether the booking is short-term, long-term, or emergency cover. We always confirm rates in advance, so there are no surprises.
Why are your rates higher than those of some agencies?
We are not a volume agency supplying unvetted labour. Our rates reflect:
Experienced kitchen porters who understand live kitchens
Reliable attendance and rapid replacement cover
Full compliance with payroll, insurance, and employment law
Staff who can work independently without supervision
In practice, our clients save money through reduced disruption, fewer no-shows, and smoother service.
Do you charge different rates for day, evening, and overnight shifts?
Yes. Rates vary based on working hours:
Day shifts: from £18.95 per hour
Evening shifts: from £20.95 per hour
Overnight shifts: from £24.95 per hour
This reflects the availability, experience level, and reliability required for anti-social hours.
Are weekend and Bank Holiday rates different?
Yes. Bank Holiday shifts are charged at a premium rate, typically 50% - 100% above standard rates. This is standard across the hospitality staffing industry.
Do you offer discounted rates for long-term or regular bookings?
Yes. Clients booking ongoing or recurring shifts benefit from contract rates, usually starting from £17.95 per hour, depending on shift volume and consistency. Long-term bookings also allow us to assign regular staff who become familiar with your kitchen.
Is there a minimum shift length?
Yes. All kitchen porter bookings have a minimum shift length of 6–8 hours. This ensures staff availability, consistency, and operational viability.
Do you charge more for emergency or same-day cover?
Yes. Emergency and last-minute bookings are charged at a premium rate, typically from £20–£25 per hour, depending on urgency and location. This reflects rapid mobilisation and priority staffing.
What is included in your hourly rate?
Our rates include:
Fully paid and insured staff
Holiday pay and National Insurance
Staff replacement if required
Ongoing account support
There are no hidden fees or add-ons.
How do you invoice for services?
A: We invoice on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on the arrangement. Payment terms are agreed before service begins, and clear timesheets are provided.
Can you give an exact price without seeing the site?
We can provide an estimate immediately. For exact pricing, we consider:
Shift length and timing
Kitchen volume and pace
Location
Frequency of booking
This ensures fair, accurate pricing for both parties.
Why should we choose Mr Kitchen Porter at your price point?
Because kitchens don’t fail due to cost — they fail due to unreliable people. We price to deliver consistency, compliance, and peace of mind, especially when service pressure is high.
3. Deep Kitchen Cleaning Services
What is included in a deep kitchen clean?
A deep kitchen clean goes far beyond daily surface cleaning and typically includes:
Degreasing walls, floors, and ceilings
Deep cleaning cooking equipment (ranges, fryers, grills)
Extraction canopy and filter cleaning
Drain and gully sanitation
Cold room and storage area cleaning
Hard-to-reach and high-level areas
Each clean is tailored to your kitchen layout and compliance requirements.
Do you offer TR19-compliant extraction cleaning?
Yes. We provide TR19-compliant canopy, duct, and filter cleaning, complete with post-clean reports and certification suitable for insurers, councils, and fire safety audits.
Can deep cleans be done overnight?
Yes. Most deep cleans are completed overnight or during closure hours to avoid disrupting service. We work evenings, nights, weekends, and Bank Holidays.
How often should a commercial kitchen be deep cleaned?
Frequency depends on usage, but general guidance is:
High-volume kitchens (200+ covers per day): every 1–3 months
Medium-volume kitchens (80 - 200 covers per day): every 3–6 months
Low-volume kitchens (0 - 80 covers per day): every 6–12 months
We can advise after a site assessment.
4. Pricing & Payments
How is pricing structured?
Pricing depends on:
Type of service (kitchen porter or deep clean)
Duration or shift length
Location
Time of day (day, night, weekend)
Complexity and size of the kitchen
We provide clear, upfront pricing with no hidden costs.
Is there a minimum booking time?
Yes:
Kitchen porters typically have a minimum shift length of 6 hours
Deep cleans are priced per job rather than per hour
Exact minimums will be confirmed at booking.
Are there extra charges for nights or weekends?
Yes. Out-of-hours, overnight, weekend, and Bank Holiday services are charged at a premium due to staffing requirements. These rates are always communicated in advance.
How do payments work?
We offer flexible payment options including:
Pay-as-you-go invoicing
Weekly or monthly billing for contracts
Business-to-business invoicing
Payment terms are agreed before service begins.
5. Compliance, Safety & Insurance
Are you insured?
Yes. We hold full Public Liability Insurance and Employer’s Liability Insurance suitable for commercial hospitality environments.
Do your staff comply with health & safety regulations?
Yes. All staff follow:
Food hygiene best practices
COSHH guidelines
Manual handling procedures
Site-specific safety rules
We work alongside your existing H&S protocols.
Can you help with EHO inspections?
A: While we cannot attend inspections on your behalf, our deep cleaning services are designed to help kitchens pass Environmental Health Officer inspections and maintain high hygiene ratings.
6. Booking & Operations
How do I book a service?
You can book by:
Phone
Email
Website enquiry
For regular clients, bookings can be arranged directly with an account manager.
How much notice do you need?
We recommend booking in advance where possible, but we also specialise in short-notice and same-day cover, especially for kitchen porter staffing.
What areas do you cover?
A: We operate across:
Greater London
Surrounding counties
Nationwide UK coverage for most clients
London-based sites often receive same-day support.
7. What Makes Mr Kitchen Porter Different?
Why choose Mr Kitchen Porter over an agency or general cleaner?
The difference is focus and reliability. We are hospitality-only kitchen specialists. We understand service pressure, compliance risks, and kitchen flow. Our staff don’t need babysitting, our cleans aren’t superficial, and our response times are built for real kitchens - not offices.
WORKING HOURS
Monday - Friday 08:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday - Saturday 09:00 AM - 5:00 PM
ADDRESS
Mr. Kitchen Porter is owned by Elevation Support Services Limited
2nd floor Berkeley Square House Mayfair W1J 6BD London
Head office: Cremer Business Centre, 37 Cremer street, E2 8HD, London UK
020 3960 5996
hello@mrkitchenporter.com