Malmesbury Dental & Specialist Referral Centre

Project Overview

Hamish and Imogen Bury launched their new dental squat practice earlier this year, transforming a former police station in the historic Wiltshire market town of Malmesbury into the Malmesbury Dental & Specialist Referral Centre. Completed in just 12 months, the extensive renovation and surgery fit-out has created a modern, multidisciplinary clinic offering private general dentistry alongside specialist referral services.

Working in partnership with Hague Dental, who provided dental equipment, engineering, and Project Management, we posed some questions to Hamish about the journey:

When did you first come across Hague Dental, and what prompted you to get in touch?

We began speaking to dental fit-out companies while planning the practice and before the building work had properly commenced. The Dentistry Show in 2025 was an important part of that process and gave us the opportunity to meet suppliers and explore the available options.

From our early conversations with Hague, we had a great deal of confidence in James Fletcher. He understood what we were trying to create, was knowledgeable and approachable, and never tried to push us towards a larger turnkey package that was not right for our project.

Did you visit the showroom, and how did it help?

Yes. Hague’s showroom was extremely useful. It allowed us to see the equipment, chairs, cabinetry and finishes properly rather than making decisions from brochures or drawings alone.

Designing a new practice involves an enormous number of individual decisions, so being able to see and compare the options in person gave us much greater confidence in our final selections.

What made you choose Hague Dental?

We spoke to approximately five dental fit-out companies before making our decision.

• • We chose Hague because:
  • we had confidence in James as our lead contact;
  • Hague was a professional and well-established business;
  • the company had the resources and expertise to deliver the project;
  • the team was proactive and consistently responsive;
  • Hague offered to support and check our builder’s work without insisting on undertaking the entire project as a turnkey package; and
  • we felt we would be working with a cohesive and experienced team.

That balance of expertise, flexibility and support was particularly important because our main contractor had not previously undertaken a dental project.

Engineering and Installation

How would you describe your experience with the engineering team?

Our experience with the engineering and installation teams was very positive. They were professional, knowledgeable, friendly and courteous while working in what was inevitably a very busy environment towards the end of the project.

They worked well alongside our builder and the various other contractors involved in the practice, which was essential to keeping everything coordinated.

How satisfied were you with the installation process?

We were extremely satisfied. Hague delivered the fit-out in accordance with the agreed programme and helped us open on schedule on 7 April 2026.

The service drawings provided for the surgeries, decontamination room and CBCT room were particularly important. They gave our builder, electrician and plumbers clear information about exactly where services needed to be installed, helping us avoid costly errors or delays.

Equipment Selection

What influenced your decision to choose Belmont dental chairs?

Imogen had worked in many different practices and clinical environments, so she had clear ideas about how she wanted the surgeries to function.

We felt Belmont offered the right combination of quality, reliability, comfort and flexibility. We selected an ambidextrous Belmont S8 for Surgery 1, which helps future-proof the surgery and allows it to accommodate different clinicians and working styles.

The chairs also worked well with the wider ergonomic design, including the positioning of the delivery cart behind the patient so that the clinician can speak to the patient face-to-face without equipment creating a barrier.

Project Management

How valuable was having a dedicated Project Manager?

Having Darren Shaw as a dedicated Project Manager was extremely valuable.

This was a complex project involving our builder, electricians, plumbers, ventilation contractors, IT providers, cabinetry manufacturers and several equipment suppliers. Having someone at Hague responsible for overseeing its part of the project, coordinating the details and maintaining momentum removed a considerable amount of pressure from us.

How would you describe the communication and coordination?

Communication was consistently strong. Emails and telephone calls were answered, questions were dealt with and the team remained accessible throughout the project.

Hague also attended our wider contractors’ meeting before the main installation work began. Bringing everyone together at an early stage helped clarify responsibilities, agree the programme and identify any potential clashes before they became problems on site.

Surgery Design

How well does the ergonomic layout work for you and your team?

The surgeries work very well. A great deal of thought went into the cabinetry, storage, equipment positioning and movement around the patient.

Some of the details that have proved particularly useful include:

• positioning the dentist’s delivery cart behind the patient;
• providing space and services for the EMS unit, scanners and mobile equipment;
• creating proper knee space beneath the desk;
• incorporating plenty of accessible storage;
• including a moveable cabinetry unit for surgical procedures; and
• ensuring that equipment can be moved easily between rooms.

The decontamination room and X-ray lobby also form a central clinical hub, allowing staff and equipment to move efficiently without patients having to return through the waiting room unnecessarily.

Overall Experience

What did Hague do particularly well?

Hague listened carefully and translated our requirements into a bespoke and practical clinical environment.

The team provided detailed drawings, supported our builder, coordinated with the other contractors, remained responsive and ultimately delivered the fit-out on schedule. Most importantly, the finished surgeries both look excellent and work well clinically.

Is there anything Hague could have done better?

There is nothing significant that I would identify. A project of this scale will always involve final adjustments and snagging, but Hague remained engaged and worked with us to resolve the remaining details.

Our overall experience was extremely positive.

Would you recommend Hague Dental?

Yes, without hesitation.

Hague combined the knowledge and resources of an established dental supplier with a flexible and personal approach. They understood that we wanted to retain control of our wider building project while relying on their specialist expertise for the clinical fit-out.

They delivered what they promised, worked collaboratively with our other contractors, and helped us open the practice on time.