Barrhead Travel

The Brief

Barrhead Travel, one of the UK’s leading travel retailers, required a complete air conditioning solution for their new branch in Darlington. The store combined a large, open-plan sales floor with multiple consultation desks and private offices, as well as a small staff area at the rear.

The key requirements were clear: the system needed to create a welcoming, comfortable environment for customers spending extended time in consultations, while ensuring staff working in private offices could manage their own temperature settings. Barrhead also wanted a solution that was quiet, energy-efficient, and discreet, blending seamlessly into the interior design of the new fit-out.

A further challenge was the tight programme. The installation had to be completed in step with the wider shopfitting works, with no scope for delays that could impact the store’s opening date.

Our Solution

After reviewing the space and liaising with the fit-out contractor, Alpine Air specified a Mitsubishi Electric multi-split system. This provided the flexibility to serve different areas of the store with a single outdoor unit, helping to reduce both cost and the physical footprint of the system.

For the main sales floor, low-noise ceiling cassette units were installed to deliver even airflow across the open-plan space without creating draughts or noise disruption for customers. In the private offices and staff areas, compact wall-mounted units were chosen, allowing each space to be controlled independently while keeping the design neat and unobtrusive.

Installation was carried out by Alpine Air’s in-house F-Gas certified engineers, who coordinated their work closely with the shopfitting team. Services were routed discreetly through voids and bulkheads, ensuring the system was fully integrated into the new interior. Where noisy or disruptive works were required, these were scheduled out of hours to avoid clashes with other trades.

The Outcome

The project was delivered on time and aligned perfectly with the store’s scheduled opening. The new system provides year-round comfort, maintaining stable temperatures for both customers and staff while operating quietly in the background. Zoning ensures different areas of the store can be adjusted independently, reducing wasted energy and enhancing both staff and customer experience.

By selecting Mitsubishi Electric equipment, the installation offers long-term efficiency and reliability, with reduced running costs compared to conventional systems. Feedback from the store manager has been highly positive, noting how discreetly the units integrate with the shop’s design and the noticeable difference in comfort levels throughout the day.

This project highlights Alpine Air’s expertise in delivering high-quality air conditioning solutions for the retail sector, combining technical precision, premium equipment, and seamless coordination with other contractors to ensure successful outcomes on tight timelines.