Ibai is a top-tier London restaurant known for its exceptional dining experience and expansive wine list. With a focus on impeccable service and high customer satisfaction, Ibai constantly seeks innovative solutions to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences.
Saving space
Operating with a diverse and extensive wine list, Ibai faced a common logistical issue: limited refrigeration space. With over 70 white wines, plus rosés and sparkling varieties, chilling and storing enough bottles to meet fluctuating demand proved nearly impossible.
“Space is always at a premium. We do have a white wine fridge hidden in the back of the cellar, which is great, but there’s only so much room in there… In an ideal world, you keep six bottles of everything chilled — but there’s simply not room, and there never will be.”
Hugh Jones, Head Sommelier at Ibai
This challenge often affected service, especially during peak hours or when large parties placed multiple wine orders simultaneously.
Delivering on demand
V-Tex supplied Ibai with a rapid drinks chiller, the Standalone — a compact, sustainable device that chills wine bottles to optimal serving temperatures in just 3–6 minutes using only ice and water. This solution allowed Ibai to chill bottles on demand, freeing up fridge space and removing the need for additional refrigeration units.
“We use this to augment the storage we do have. It enables us not to have to buy another big wine fridge, because we can chill things down on the fly if we need to.”
Hugh Jones, Head Sommelier at Ibai
Seamless implementation
Ibai integrated the V-Tex Standalone seamlessly into its daily operations. During service, staff use the device both reactively — when there’s a change of plan— and proactively by preparing bottles based on known table preferences.
“You get a big table, they come in and order three bottles of something. Suddenly, you don’t have them chilled — that’s when this comes into its own.”
Hugh Jones, Head Sommelier at Ibai
V-Tex transformed Ibai’s service in multiple ways:
- Improved service speed and flexibility: Staff can now serve any bottle at the perfect temperature without delay.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction and sales: “They want wine at the right temperature, and they want it now. If we can do that, they’ll drink it — and want another one.”
- Optimized storage: Ibai now chills one or two bottles per label and uses V-Tex to support higher-volume needs.
- Resource savings: Less water and ice are wasted — crucial during busy or hot days.
“There was a huge amount of ice being used… and occasions during heatwaves where we just ran out of ice. Now we’re saving water, saving energy, and saving the bar from running out too.”
Hugh Jones, Head Sommelier at Ibai
V-Tex proved to be a gamechanger for Ibai, supporting both operational efficiency and the high standards of customer service the restaurant is known for. As demand for premium service and sustainable solutions grows, V-Tex offers restaurants a smarter way to deliver excellence — one chilled drink at a time.