When a walk-in, freezer or display fridge fails out of hours and stock is warming, our featured pick in London is Be Cool Refrigeration: it runs 24/7 emergency callouts, prioritises jobs by how much stock is at risk, aims to attend cold room breakdowns within two to four hours, and tells you how to protect stock if a part has to be ordered. Other firms are worth knowing too. Kept Cold publishes a two-hour emergency target and its out-of-hours rate, Xpress Refrigeration keeps phone lines open until 10pm daily with a separate night number, Aspect promises a one-hour emergency response, Premium Refrigeration and NTS Cooling both advertise round-the-clock repairs, and ACL London offers a free call-out.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored article. Be Cool Refrigeration paid for this placement and appears first as our featured pick. No other company on this list paid to be included, was contacted, or reviewed this article before publication.
How we built this list
We researched these companies on 7 and 8 October 2026 using desk research only. We did not test emergency response.
Who qualified: London-based companies that advertise out-of-hours or 24/7 commercial refrigeration repair.
What we compared: hours of cover, stated response targets, out-of-hours pricing, how jobs are prioritised, equipment covered and repair guarantees.
Sources: company websites. All response times are company targets.
How we ordered it: Be Cool Refrigeration is first as the sponsored featured pick. The rest are ordered by how specific their emergency terms are. No scoring model.
At a glance: emergency refrigeration repair in London
| # | Company | Strongest fit | Main differentiator | Pricing basis | Key consideration |
| 1 | Be Cool Refrigeration (featured, sponsored) | Kitchens and shops with high-value stock | 24/7; triage by stock risk; 2 to 4 hour cold room target | Price confirmed before work | Out-of-hours rate not published |
| 2 | Kept Cold | Multi-site groups | 2-hour emergency target; 1.5x out-of-hours rate | PPM from £60 per unit + VAT | Targets apply to multi-site accounts |
| 3 | Xpress Refrigeration | Late-trading takeaways | Lines to 10pm daily plus night number | Not publicly listed | Mixed aftercare reviews |
| 4 | Aspect | Small sites wanting fast attendance | 1-hour emergency response promise | From £63 per half-hour + VAT | Generalist firm |
| 5 | Premium Refrigeration | West and Central London venues | Open 24 hours, 7 days | Not publicly listed | Thin public information |
| 6 | NTS Cooling | West London retailers and labs | 24/7 emergency repair; specialist freezers | Not publicly listed | Inconsistent experience claims |
| 7 | ACL London | Shops and bars | Free call-out | Rates by email | 24/7 cover not stated |
All details are company-stated, checked 7 and 8 October 2026.
1. Be Cool Refrigeration | Our featured pick for out-of-hours breakdowns where stock is at risk
Overview
Be Cool Refrigeration offers 24/7 commercial refrigeration repair across London from its office on Ludgate Hill, EC4, including evenings and weekends for businesses that trade late. It says it has worked in the trade since 2004 and repairs fridges, freezers, cold rooms, display cabinets, bottle coolers, blast chillers, ice machines and cellar coolers of every make.
When you call, it asks for the fault and location, gives a realistic arrival window, and prioritises jobs by urgency and the value of stock at risk. For cold rooms it says it aims to attend breakdowns within two to four hours.
Key details
- Core offering: 24/7 emergency refrigeration repair, maintenance contracts with priority cover.
- Coverage: Greater London and the Home Counties, including Essex, Kent and Surrey.
- Customer fit: restaurants, pubs, hotels, care homes, supermarkets and food manufacturers.
- Pricing and terms: costs confirmed before work; rates not published.
Where Be Cool Refrigeration stands out
Its triage matches how food businesses lose money. Prioritising by stock at risk means a full freezer room gets attention before a half-empty bottle cooler, which is the decision an operator would make too.
It plans for the part that is not on the van. Engineers carry common parts and refrigerant to fix on the first visit where possible; if a part must be ordered, Be Cool says it will arrange a prompt return visit and advise how to protect stock in the meantime.
What to consider
The two-to-four-hour figure is a target for cold rooms, not a guarantee, and no out-of-hours rate is published. Ask both when you call.
Best fit
Kitchens, pubs and shops holding high-value chilled or frozen stock that need a 24/7 engineer who will prioritise by risk.
Website: becoolrefrigeration.co.uk
2. Kept Cold | Best for multi-site groups that want written emergency targets
Overview
Kept Cold Ltd is a refrigeration-only repair and maintenance company with a City Road, EC1 address, covering London within the M25. It repairs cold rooms, display fridges, under-counter units, blast chillers, ice machines and prep counters for restaurants, hotels, dark kitchens and FM companies.
For accounts with three or more sites it lists a two-hour emergency response target and four to six hour same-day attendance, with quarterly PPM, consolidated 30-day invoicing and RAMS documentation.
Key details
- Core offering: breakdown repair and planned maintenance.
- Coverage: London within the M25.
- Customer fit: multi-site restaurant groups and FM companies.
- Pricing and terms: out-of-hours labour at 1.5 times the standard rate; six-month parts and labour guarantee on repairs.
Where Kept Cold stands out
Its out-of-hours cost is predictable. A published 1.5x multiplier means an operator knows a Sunday-night call will cost 50 percent more in labour, not an open-ended premium.
Its targets are written for multi-site accounts, close to an SLA a facilities manager can hold the firm to.
What to consider
The two-hour target is described for multi-site accounts; single sites should ask what applies to them. No AC service.
Best fit
Restaurant groups and FM teams wanting contractual emergency targets and known out-of-hours rates.
Website: keptcold.co.uk
3. Xpress Refrigeration | Best for late-trading takeaways and quick-service sites
Overview
Xpress Refrigeration Ltd repairs commercial refrigeration across Central London, Canary Wharf, the M25 and the South East, and says it was founded in 2005. Its phone lines are open 10am to 10pm daily, with a separate out-of-hours number.
It covers fridges, freezers, cold rooms, multidecks, makelines, deli counters, ice machines and gelato freezers, and its engineers carry spare parts. Its review widget showed Google 4.8 from 293 reviews on 7 October 2026.
Key details
- Core offering: reactive repair, servicing and installation.
- Coverage: London and the South East.
- Customer fit: takeaways, quick-service restaurants and convenience stores.
- Pricing and terms: not publicly listed.
Where Xpress Refrigeration stands out
Its daily phone hours match late-trading food businesses, and reviewers often describe attendance within one to three hours, including weekends.
Makeline and pizza counter repairs are a listed specialism, important for takeaways where the prep counter is the bottleneck.
What to consider
Recent reviews include complaints about repeat faults and aftercare. Ask for a written repair guarantee.
Best fit
Takeaways and quick-service sites trading into the evening.
Website: xpressrefrigeration.com
4. Aspect | Best for small sites that want the fastest stated attendance
Overview
Aspect Maintenance Services Limited, trading as Aspect, is a Chessington-based multi-trade firm covering all 32 London boroughs. Its F-Gas licensed staff repair commercial refrigeration, and it promises a callback within 15 minutes and a one-hour emergency response, with 24/7 support.
It lists CHAS, ISO 9001 and SafeContractor, BESA and NAPIT registration, and absorbs parking, travel, Congestion Charge and ULEZ costs.
Key details
- Core offering: commercial refrigeration repair; AC; other trades.
- Coverage: all London boroughs.
- Customer fit: cafés, shops and landlords.
- Pricing and terms: from £63 per half-hour plus VAT, one-hour minimum; 12-month guarantee.
Where Aspect stands out
It states the fastest emergency response we found, with a 15-minute callback.
Published rates help in an emergency, when there is no time to compare quotes.
What to consider
It is not a refrigeration specialist; ask whether the attending engineer works on your equipment type. Out-of-hours rates are not stated separately.
Best fit
Small food businesses wanting a quick, hourly-rated emergency visit.
Website: aspect.co.uk
5. Premium Refrigeration | Best for West and Central London venues needing 24-hour repair
Overview
Premium Refrigeration is a repair and maintenance specialist at Saltram Crescent, W9, open 24 hours, seven days. It covers areas including Chelsea, Westminster, Hampstead and Twickenham and repairs walk-in coolers, display units, cold rooms and freezer rooms.
It states more than 35 years’ experience and F-Gas registration, and repairs premium domestic brands such as Sub-Zero alongside commercial kit.
Key details
- Core offering: commercial and premium domestic refrigeration repair.
- Coverage: West and Central London.
- Customer fit: restaurants, bars, boutique hotels and clubs.
- Pricing and terms: not publicly listed; company guarantee.
Where Premium Refrigeration stands out
Round-the-clock opening with a repair-only focus suits venues that already have equipment and just need a night-time fix.
Its coverage of both commercial and premium domestic units helps hotels and clubs with mixed kit.
What to consider
No company number, response target, clients or prices are published.
Best fit
West and Central London venues wanting a 24-hour repair number.
Website: premiumrefrigeration.co.uk
6. NTS Cooling | Best for West London retailers and labs
Overview
NTS Cooling has a head office on Uxbridge Road, Ealing, W5, and offers 24/7 emergency repair for cold rooms, display cabinets, multidecks, ice machines, bottle coolers and commercial fridges and freezers across London. Phone lines are open seven days a week.
It also supplies ultra-low temperature freezers and climatic test chambers, and names brands including Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Arneg, Foster and Gram.
Key details
- Core offering: supply, installation, maintenance and 24/7 emergency repair.
- Coverage: London and surrounding counties.
- Customer fit: supermarkets, restaurants and laboratories.
- Pricing and terms: not publicly listed; finance available.
Where NTS Cooling stands out
Specialist freezers are covered, which matters for labs where a failed ultra-low unit can destroy samples.
It can supply replacement display equipment if a repair is not viable.
What to consider
Its site states both 30 and 25+ years’ experience, and also lists unrelated property services.
Best fit
West London retailers and labs needing 24/7 emergency cover on specialist or display equipment.
Website: ntscooling.co.uk
7. ACL London | Best for shops and bars watching call-out costs
Overview
ACL London, a trading name of ACL Refrigeration & AC Ltd (Company No. 16021830) at Kemp House, City Road, EC1, repairs and maintains commercial refrigeration and air conditioning across London.
It offers a free call-out for contract and non-contract customers, says it is Refcom and ACRIB certified, and covers bottle coolers, display cabinets, cold rooms and cellar coolers.
Key details
- Core offering: refrigeration repair and maintenance; AC.
- Coverage: named areas across London.
- Customer fit: shops, bars and small supermarkets.
- Pricing and terms: free call-out; rates by email.
Where ACL London stands out
A free call-out removes the fixed cost of an emergency visit, which can be most of the bill on a simple fault.
It covers bar and cellar equipment.
What to consider
The page reviewed does not state 24/7 cover or a response time. Confirm out-of-hours availability.
Best fit
Shops and bars that want to avoid call-out fees.
Website: airconditioning-london.co.uk
What to do when refrigeration fails out of hours
- Keep doors shut to hold temperature.
- Record temperatures and times for food safety records.
- Move high-risk stock to working units if you can.
- Ask for the arrival window and out-of-hours rate before confirming.
- If a part is needed, ask how to protect stock until the return visit.
Frequently asked questions
How much more does an out-of-hours refrigeration repair cost?
Kept Cold publishes an out-of-hours labour multiplier of 1.5x, checked 7 October 2026. Most others quote per call.
How fast can an engineer reach me?
Published targets include Aspect’s one-hour emergency response, Kept Cold’s two-hour target for multi-site accounts and Be Cool Refrigeration’s two to four hours for cold rooms. These are targets, not guarantees.
Will my stock be safe if the fridge stays shut?
A sealed commercial fridge can hold a safe temperature for a while. Monitor it and follow your food safety plan if it rises.
Can a maintenance contract get me faster emergency cover?
Yes. Be Cool Refrigeration and Kept Cold both link priority cover to maintenance contracts.
The bottom line
For food businesses that need a 24/7 refrigeration engineer who prioritises by stock at risk, Be Cool Refrigeration is our featured pick. Multi-site groups wanting written targets and a known out-of-hours rate should compare Kept Cold, and late-trading takeaways Xpress Refrigeration. Save an emergency number now, before the nex
