It’s a type of service lift, also known as a lazy waiter, food lift or restaurant dumbwaiter, often used to carry and transport food and drinks in hospitality venues such as bars, restaurants and domestic kitchens.

Manual dumbwaiters were first used in large houses with kitchens and household staff in the basements or servant’s quarters. The servants used the lift to move food from the kitchen to the dining room. The term’s origins simply mean the lift was a way of having a ‘silent’ servant, not heard or seen.

You’ll be surprised at the small space needed. Our most popular dumbwaiter size is a 50C, 50kg standard model. Its compact shaft size of 900mm x 9000mm and waist-height loading makes it perfect for moving smaller goods between floors. There are a range of dumbwaiter sizes available, smaller or larger than this.

They come in a wide range of sizes and weight capacities, including four 50kg and two 100kg models, offering a wide choice of sizes ‘off the shelf’. Low headroom and bottom drive models significantly reduce headroom, and we can provide niche dumbwaiters to suit specific spaces. You can find more details on dimensions in our brochure, plus our technical area includes dumbwaiter CAD blocks, specifications, and datasheets to help you place the right model into your project.

Dumbwaiter prices start at £7,000 and vary depending on travel, number of stops, configuration, and additional options and finishes. Plus, all our models include 12-month servicing and 24/7 emergency cover. You’ll need to factor in any building works in addition to the dumbwaiter installation cost.

To install an exterior dumbwaiter, a fully pre-built outdoor shaft is required to protect it from the elements.

Most dumbwaiter installations for a two-floor service lift are completed in one to two days, and then our engineers return for a second visit to commission the lift.

Our larger 100kg industrial dumbwaiter suits high-traffic environments such as large restaurants, hotels, and industrial settings such as factories and warehouses.

We don’t sell second-hand dumbwaiters. These little workhorses are well-used, as such, we’d always recommend choosing a new product as it will be energy efficient, have new parts and will include warranty and servicing.

No. Absolutely not. These little lifts are designed to carry goods only.