Heated Gantry Buying Guide: 2 Tier vs 3 Tier, Sizes and Alternatives
Quick answerA heated gantry is an overhead shelf unit with quartz heat lamps that sits over your pass, keeping plated food hot in the gap between the kitchen and the customer. Pick the width to match your pass (900, 1200, 1500 or 1800mm) and the number of tiers by how many plates wait at your busiest moment. If you need to display food to customers, hold it for longer, or keep chips crisp, a food warmer station, warming drawer or chip scuttle is the better tool.
Find your gantry in two clicks
Pick your pass width and how many tiers you need, and we'll show you the exact model.
How wide is your pass or counter?
How many plates wait on the pass at your busiest moment?
2 Tier 900mm (KEL-FWL092)
4 x 300W quartz lamps, 900 x 300 x 650mm. Compact for small passes and takeaway counters. £192.66
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2 Tier 1200mm (KEL-FWL122)
6 x 300W quartz lamps, 1200 x 300 x 650mm. The everyday width for most restaurant passes. £228.00
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2 Tier 1500mm (KEL-FWL152)
8 x 300W quartz lamps, 1500 x 300 x 650mm. A full service line underneath. £263.34
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2 Tier 1800mm (KEL-FWL182)
10 x 300W quartz lamps, 1800 x 300 x 650mm. The widest two-tier for high-volume passes. £295.26
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3 Tier 900mm (KEL-FWL093)
6 x 300W quartz lamps, 900 x 300 x 975mm. Extra holding without extra bench space. £249.99
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3 Tier 1200mm
9 x 300W quartz lamps, 1200 x 300 x 975mm. Standard pass width with a third tier. £299.99
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3 Tier 1500mm (KEL-FWL153)
12 x 300W quartz lamps, 1500 x 300 x 975mm. For busy passes and buffet lines. £349.99
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3 Tier 1800mm (KEL-FWL183)
15 x 300W quartz lamps, 1800 x 300 x 975mm. The biggest gantry in the range. £449.99
View gantry2 tier vs 3 tier: which do you need?
| 2 tier gantry | 3 tier gantry | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 650mm | 975mm |
| Holding capacity | Two rows of plates or containers | Three rows in the same footprint |
| Lamps (1200mm model) | 6 x 300W | 9 x 300W |
| Best for | Restaurant passes, plated service, takeaways | Busy passes, buffets, carveries, high-volume takeaways |
| Watch out for | Can fill up at peak | Needs more headroom; check shelves or extraction above |
Rule of thumb: if plates ever queue on the bench beside the gantry at peak time, you need the extra tier. If your pass has a shelf or extraction canopy low overhead, measure before choosing 3 tier.
Every Keloo gantry compared
| Width | 2 tier (650mm high) | 3 tier (975mm high) |
|---|---|---|
| 900mm | 4 lamps, £192.66 | 6 lamps, £249.99 |
| 1200mm | 6 lamps, £228.00 | 9 lamps, £299.99 |
| 1500mm | 8 lamps, £263.34 | 12 lamps, £349.99 |
| 1800mm | 10 lamps, £295.26 | 15 lamps, £449.99 |
All gantries are 300mm deep, stainless steel and pass-through (open both sides), with 300W quartz lamps. Prices correct at time of writing.
Gantry or something else?
A gantry is built for plated food waiting a few minutes. Answer three questions to check it's the right tool.
1. What are you keeping hot?
2. How long does it wait?
3. Do customers see it?
A heated gantry
Dry overhead heat for plates waiting on the pass. Use the size picker above to find your model.
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A chip scuttle
Dry radiant heat and a perforated, draining base so chips stay crisp instead of steaming. £199.99.
View chip scuttle
Food warming drawers
Hold cooked rice, meats and breads hot under the counter so you can cook ahead of the rush. 1, 2 or 3 drawers from £299.99.
View warming drawersAlternatives compared
Installation and food safety tips
- Check your power. A standard 13A plug supplies about 3kW. Each lamp is 300W, so a 15-lamp gantry draws 4.5kW. Check the electrical requirements in the manual for larger models and use a qualified electrician where needed.
- Measure the headroom. 3 tier gantries stand 975mm tall. Allow clearance from shelves, canopies and anything that could be affected by heat.
- Hold, don't reheat. Gantries keep hot food hot. Food should go under the lamps already at temperature; UK guidance is to hold hot food at 63°C or above.
- Probe regularly. Check temperatures with a probe thermometer through service, not just by eye.
Frequently asked questions
What is a heated gantry?
A shelf frame with overhead heat lamps that sits over a pass or counter, keeping plated food warm between the kitchen and service.
Quartz lamp vs ceramic or infrared: what's the difference?
Quartz lamps give instant, directional radiant heat and light, so plates are visible and warm from the moment they're switched on. They hold temperature without steaming food the way moist heat does.
Can I use a gantry to keep chips crisp?
A gantry helps, but a chip scuttle is better: it adds a perforated, draining base so oil and steam escape rather than softening the chips.
How long can food stay under a heat lamp?
Gantries are designed for short holding during service. Keep food at 63°C or above, check with a probe and follow your food safety management system for maximum holding times.
What does pass-through mean?
The gantry is open on both sides, so the kitchen places plates from one side and front-of-house staff collect from the other.
Keep every plate hot
Quartz lamp gantries from 900mm to 1800mm with a 12-month warranty and next-day UK delivery. Questions? Call 0121 769 3436.
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