UK. Manchester Airport will open 22 new shops, restaurants and bars in its expanded Terminal 2 by next summer, completing the travel hub’s £1.3 billion (US$1.72 billion) transformation programme.
Highlights will include a store from luxury brand Chanel alongside other well-known names including Pandora, LEGO, WHSmith, Rituals and Boots.
Avolta-owned World Duty Free will unveil a 2,165sq m store featuring key brands such as Christian Dior, Gucci, YSL and Charlotte Tilbury.
Several smaller World Duty Free Express stores will be situated at other points on the passenger journey through the terminal. Avolta will also operate small stores dedicated to Estée Lauder Companies luxury brands such as Tom Ford, Jo Malone London and Le Labo.
The second phase of the T2 development will also see the unveiling of the Great Northern Market, a 472-seat food hall which, according to the airport, will bringing the best of Manchester’s street food scene to the terminal. It will also feature six international street food kitchens including a Gooey desserts unit.
The food hall will feature a diverse range of street food options including pizza, Mexican food, noodles and more. The airport said the F&B development’s offers will rotate regularly in line with food market trends and customer demand.
The Great Northern Market has been created by airport food and drink specialist Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE) in collaboration with street food pioneer Dominic Cools-Lartigue.
ARE Director John Butts said: “We are delighted to be such a huge part of the new Terminal 2 expansion and to be bringing a food market to Manchester Airport. The city’s food & beverage scene is world class and food market halls have played an integral role in this culture – they offer choice, convenience, speed and the buzz of communal dining at an affordable price.
“We’ve brought together a fabulous team including those behind Manchester icons Gooey and Dominic Cools-Lartigue, the founder of food markets Street Feast and Dalston Yard. We are bringing local suppliers to a fantastic open space which will include murals hand-painted by local artists.
“Airport dining has never looked better and it is our vision that Great Northern Market will rival any high street experience.”
New cafés, bars and restaurants will include the Fever-Tree Bar, JD Wetherspoon (featuring décor showing North of England sporting greats), Joe and the Juice, Greggs, Upper Crust, Starbucks and WHSmith’s Grindsmith Café. There will also be an extension to the popular Amber Alehouse, operated by Salford brewery Seven Bro7hers.
Chanel and the Fever-Tree bar will be situated in an area named the Boutique Mall, while LEGO, Pandora and Rituals will be located on a high street style shopping strip called The Avenue. This will link up with the existing departure lounge in the already open section of T2.
Pandora UK Sales Director Ross Monaghan said: “Manchester and the surrounding areas have always been an important focus for Pandora and we are delighted to bring our new Evoke concept, now featuring diamonds, to the heart of Manchester Airport.
“Airports provide us with a unique opportunity to engage with many of our customers, and with the exciting new extension at Manchester Airport, we look forward to working with the Manchester Airports Group as we continue to offer our customers not only great gifts, but also a way to remember their special getaways.”
Fever-Tree Retail Operations Director Craig Maitland commented: “As part of our quest to premiumise airport drinking and dining experiences globally, we are thrilled to open our Fever-Tree cocktails and Champagne bar in Manchester Airport’s brand-new Terminal Two.
“As the UK’s global gateway in the North, this fantastic location allows travellers the opportunity to start their journeys by enjoying our expertly crafted drinks and quality food menus whilst relaxing under our iconic Fever-Tree canopy.”
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “We are really proud to connect the North to the world – and now through our brand new Terminal 2 we’re able to do that in a setting that rivals any airport in any major capital city.
“The new shops, bars and restaurants we’re adding in the second phase of the development of Terminal 2 will really elevate the experience and help people feel like they’re starting their holidays at the airport.
“Whatever your budget and preferences, you’ll be able to find something to your tastes in Terminal 2. Not only that, you’ll also be able to enjoy modern, world-class facilities and one of Europe’s most extensive route networks – so wherever you’re travelling, you’ll be able to start your trip in style.”
Manchester Airport Retail Director Richard Jackson said: “We’ve worked hard to make sure we’re bringing exciting, classic brands like Chanel and Pandora to the airport as well as Fever-Tree opening a statement cocktail bar and our very own Lego store – while also making sure people have the brands they love to see in an airport setting like Wetherspoon and Greggs.
“On top of that our Great Northern Market will be a unique airport offering – allowing people to enjoy the popular ‘market hall’ style dining experience with a range of individual street food style pop ups around a central eating area. It will let groups of people dine together while being able to choose from a range of different and varied menus.”
The first phase of the airport’s revamped T2 opened in 2021 and features local brands such as fast-food restaurant Archies, pizza restaurant San Carlo, café chain Pot Kettle Black and the Joseph Holt pub, as well as Pret A Manger, M&S Food and Starbucks. More than 30 million passengers have already used the T2 extension. 
