Lincat

Buying Lincat

Lincat is a British manufacturer based in Lincoln, and it is the brand most UK kitchens reach for when they want dependable cooking without the price or bulk of continental heavy-duty. Its core is prime cooking: frying, grilling, griddling, boiling and holding, alongside hot water for tea and coffee. It also now covers combi and high-speed ovens, so it is not only a griddle-and-fryer brand. For cafes, pubs, schools, care homes and most restaurants the build is more than good enough, so the real decision is not whether Lincat is up to the job, but which family fits your duty level, your cooking method and the space you have to fill.

It helps to know the families by name. For prime cooking there are three counter-top and free-standing tiers: Lynx 400 is the entry line (panini and contact grills, compact convection ovens, bain maries) for light use and tight counters; Silverlink 600 is the 600 mm deep workhorse (griddles, chargrills, salamanders, bain maries and compact fryers) for moderate volume; and Opus 800 is the step up at 800 mm deep, heavier built, with higher outputs and fuller oven ranges for busy, long services. Phoenix is the value oven range and induction line, spanning gas, dual fuel and multi-zone induction ranges (4 and 6 zone) plus bratt pans. On the oven side, Invoq is Lincat's combi and hybrid range (6, 10 and 20 grid, in 1/1 and 2/1 GN) for roasting, steaming and regeneration, while CiBO and CiBO+ are counter-top high-speed ovens for panini, toasting and fast snacking. Two more names round it out: FilterFlow water boilers for beverage service, and Seal refrigerated and heated display and food bars for servery.

Before you commit, settle four things. Fuel and supply: natural gas, LPG (propane), electric or induction, and for larger electric or induction ranges check whether you need a three-phase supply. Width and depth: units come in 300, 400, 600 and 900 mm modules, so plan the run to fit the gap. Support: most Silverlink 600 and Opus 800 counter-top units need a floor stand, pedestal or wall bracket, and these are ordered separately, so do not assume one is in the box. Filtration: Opus 800 fryers are offered with or without pumped oil filtration, which pays back quickly in oil life if you fry all day. One genuine Lincat strength is that spares and accessories stay available, so a unit can be kept in service for years rather than replaced.

Lincat: common questions

How do the main Lincat ranges differ, and which suits my kitchen?

For prime cooking, match the tier to how hard the kit will work. Lynx 400 is the entry counter-top line (panini grills, small convection ovens, bain maries) for light use and tight benches. Silverlink 600 is 600 mm deep, lighter in build and lower in kW, suited to counter-top use and moderate volumes: think cafes, small pubs and prep areas. Opus 800 is 800 mm deep with heavier construction and higher outputs, made for busy kitchens running long services. Phoenix is the value oven range and induction line, useful when you want a full range or induction cooking at a sensible price. For ovens proper, Invoq covers combi and hybrid cooking (roast, steam, regenerate) and CiBO handles high-speed panini and snacking. As a rule: Lynx or Silverlink for light to medium prime cooking, Opus for medium to heavy, Phoenix for full ranges on a budget, and Invoq or CiBO when you need a combi or a fast oven rather than open-top cooking.

Do Lincat counter-top units come with a stand?

Usually not. Most Silverlink 600 and Opus 800 counter-top units (griddles, grills, fryers, boiling tops and salamanders) are designed to sit on a bench, a floor stand, a pedestal with doors, or a wall bracket, and that support is ordered as a separate item. Lincat makes matched stands and pedestals sized to each module width, so the safest approach is to confirm the exact stand or bracket for your model before you order, and add it to the same order so it arrives together.

Should I choose gas, electric, dual fuel or induction?

It depends on your supply and your service. Gas (natural or LPG) gives instant, visible heat and is often cheaper to run, which suits high-volume frying, grilling and open-burner cooking. Electric is simpler to install where you have no gas, and is common on griddles, bain maries and salamanders. Dual fuel ranges pair gas burners with an electric oven for the best of both. Induction, offered on the Phoenix line, is the most efficient and the coolest to work over, with fast response and easy cleaning, but it needs induction-compatible pans and, on larger multi-zone ranges, a three-phase supply. Check your incoming supply and phase before you decide.

How do I choose and look after a Lincat FilterFlow water boiler?

Size it to your peak demand and your plumbing. FilterFlow boilers are automatic-fill, so they need a mains water connection, and they run from compact wall-mounted units of around 3.5 to 10 litres up to counter-top and tall boilers of 17 litres, in 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 kW outputs (a higher kW means faster recovery when demand is heavy). There are push-button, twin-tap and twin-temperature versions, plus a combined boiler and chiller. The name refers to the built-in water filter, which reduces limescale: in hard-water areas, replace the filter cartridge on schedule, as this is the single biggest factor in how long the boiler lasts and how good the drinks taste.

Is Lincat reliable, and can I get spares?

Lincat is manufactured in the UK and has a long track record as a workhorse brand, which is why it is so common in British kitchens. The build is stainless steel and straightforward to service, and parts support is a real advantage: spares and accessories for current and recent models are widely stocked, so a repair is usually quicker and cheaper than a replacement. Warranty terms vary by product and are set by the manufacturer, so check the cover on the specific model. If you tell us the model, we can confirm the current warranty and the correct spare before you buy.

Can I get Lincat equipment delivered next working day?

Sometimes, but not as a blanket promise. We hold some fast-moving lines in our own warehouse, and those can go out for next working day when you order before the daily cut-off. Most Lincat cooking equipment, especially specific fuel types, widths and made-to-configuration ranges, is ordered in from the manufacturer, so we confirm the lead time with you before you commit rather than guessing. Tell us the model you need and we will give you an honest despatch date, and flag anything we can turn around quickly.