Comprehensive Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning

Who we are

Gillingham Contractors is a professional cleaning company based in Southeast Queensland, specialising in the comprehensive cleaning and maintenance of kitchen exhaust systems and laundry ducts. For over 20 years, we have focused on canopy, duct, and fan cleaning to ensure compliance and mitigate fire risks caused by hazardous grease and oil build-up.

Our Story

The inspiration for Gillingham Contractors came after the company founder witnessed the devastating fire at the Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton, England, in 1998. The Royal Albion Hotel is a 3-star hotel located on the corner of Old Steine and Kings Road in Brighton, built on the site of a house that once belonged to a local doctor.

On the morning of 24 November 1998, whilst driving past the Royal Albion Hotel on his way to Hastings, he noticed people outside in their nightwear. At first, he thought it was a bomb scare, but soon noticed smoke rising from the roof of the hotel. It was later revealed that the fire started in the kitchen. A chef was frying eggs and sausages in a pan when hot fat spilled and caught fire. Flames were immediately sucked up a vent to the top floor, and the fire spread quickly, assisted by strong winds.

All 160 people in the building were evacuated. Firefighters from all parts of East and West Sussex attended the fire from about 8:20 am until late in the evening, in what was later described as Brighton’s “biggest firefighting operation for nearly 30 years.” All parts of the hotel were affected by fire, smoke, water, and structural damage.

Over the following weeks, the cause of the fire and the resulting dispute over costs and compensation became big news, as the hotel was in ruins and in a prime location in the town. The hotel was eventually restored.

Upon migrating to Australia, the company founder saw numerous hotels and dining establishments on the Gold Coast, reminding him of Brighton and the Royal Albion fire. Recognising the business potential for a kitchen exhaust system cleaning service, Gillingham Contractors was founded in 2001. The company quickly gained traction, especially after discovering that many other cleaning companies at the time were not complying with Australian regulations, leaving many dissatisfied customers.

Over the years and until today, the business emphasis has always been on eliminating fire risks, ensuring the safety and satisfaction of clients, with a key value of punctuality.

Services

We can add your kitchen exhaust to our maintenance schedule so you don't need to worry about when it should be cleaned.
We specialise in cleaning canopys with differing methods to suit your business.
Our specialist technicians can inspect and clean your kitchen or laundry duct. We install access panels where required.
We clean fans of all sizes using a variety of methods depending on your business.
We offer a swap out filter service or we can clean filters on-site during your scheduled maintenance clean.
We will provide a full report and certificate of service following all work.
Our team will take before and after photos of all work. The photos are time and location stamped.