New CGI and artist impression images released by the UK’s third largest airport this week show an extended departure lounge featuring a food market that’s set to serve up a variety of world cuisines and quick eats for those who prefer a more casual dining experience.
This will be alongside a new boutique high street-style shopping area, known as ‘The Avenue’, which will have a “vibrant and airy feel”, and will come complete with a champagne bar, as well as premium brands, artisan cafes, and a brasserie.
Each store front in the new shopping zone will open onto airfield views, the Airport has explained, with plenty of passenger seating around it for “added comfort”.
Manchester Airport reveals plans to open 27 new shops and restaurants in Terminal Two / Credit: Manchester Airport
According to the plans unveiled by Manchester Airport this week, a blend of regional and national brands are expected to operate the new units – which is designed to be in-keeping with the areas of Terminal Two that are already open to passengers.
“We are well aware that our guests’ holidays start at the airport,” admitted Richard Jackson, Retail Director at Manchester Airport.
“We want people to enjoy their time here, whether that means sipping craft beer brewed at the airport in a bar overlooking the airfield, or eating an artisan pizza.
“We already have a great range of food and drink options in Terminal Two, with local brands which create a strong sense of place, but we’re looking to build on that with all-new offerings, including a champagne bar and a market hall style food court.”
Aside from the plans to open the 27 new shops and restaurants, bosses at Manchester Airport say they are also searching for retailers selling toys, fashion, accessories, and travel essentials to take up units in the new ‘The Avenue’ area.
The Airport is seeking out partners who will “showcase the best of the North in their units”.
“We’re also seeking retail partners who will bring a high-class offering, tailored to the needs of the travelling public,” Mr Jackson continued.
“The first phase of the project saw some exciting brands come on board, but we’re now keen to build on that and provide a more varied and comprehensive retail experience to cater for the tastes of the millions of passengers who will pass through the terminal’s doors.”
It’s part of a wider £1.3 billion transformation programme / Credit: Manchester Airport
As mentioned, the expanded retail and restaurant offering forms part of the second phase of the wider £1.3 billion transformation programme of the Airport’s original Terminal Two.
The first phase of the transformation project saw a number of Mancunian favourites taking up residence inside Terminal Two – such as burger and shake chain Archie’s, Italian restaurant San Carlo, coffee brand Pot Kettle Black, and Manchester-based brewers Joseph Holt and Seven Bro7hers.
They were joined by household names like Costa Coffee, WHSmith, Pret a Manger, and Wagamama.
The second phase is seeing Terminal Two remodelled and upgraded in sync with the recently-opened terminal extension.
All work is expected to be completed by 2025.
Featured Image – Manchester Airport
Business
Manchester Airport opens another section of new Terminal 2, with Joe & The Juice and LEGO
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Airport’s transformation of Terminal 2 has hit another milestone this week, with the opening of a new section of the departure lounge.
The airport’s 10-year, £1.3bn Terminal 2 transformation project has been opening in several impressive phases, more than doubling its overall size.
The new section of the redeveloped Manchester Airport Terminal 2 is home to six new shops and foot outlets, including viral favourite Joe & The Juice, and a LEGO store.
Also opening this week are a new Starbucks, Upper Crust, Pandora, and Rituals.
The extension to the terminal first opened in 2021, with work to bring the existing building up to the same standard now almost complete.
Later this year, there’ll be more new openings to look forward to, including Chanel, Grindsmith by WH Smith, a Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar, and the Great Northern Market – a food court with a selection of street food options.
More than 70% of the airport’s passengers will use the new facilities, and Terminal 1 will close when the project is completed later this year.
Last year the terminal extension claimed a prestigious, UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award recognising its outstanding design.
Manchester Airport opens another section of new Terminal 2, with Joe & The Juice and LEGO
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “It’s wonderful to see more of our new-look Terminal 2 opening to the public, further enhancing the world class passenger experience that this terminal offers.
“We have a busy few months ahead of us as we finish this transformative 10-year project.
“We’re proud to connect the people of the North with the world, and these new facilities will allow them to travel in the style befitting a major international hub, while also creating a striking first impression for visitors to our region.
“Manchester and the North are woven through the fabric of this terminal building, from the worker bee and honeycomb motif in the terminal’s design, to the many Northern brands operating shops and restaurants in our departure lounge.
“We’re thrilled to see the last pieces of the project coming together and we’re sure the 70 per cent or so of our passengers who will use the final product will be as pleased with it as we are.”
Richard Jackson, Retail Director at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re pleased to welcome so many exciting brands to our new-look Terminal 2. These brands are household names and leaders within their markets, with a reputation for quality, which makes them a perfect fit for the experience we are creating here.
“I look forward to working with them and with the brands due to open units later this year, as we put the finishing touches to the terminal.”
Beloved Stockport burger joint The Last Stop is closing its doors this month
Danny Jones
Much-loved burger joint and bar The Last Stop has announced it will be closing the doors of its original Stockport restaurant later this month.
The popular burger, gyros and Heaton Chapel hangout spot only just opened back in April 2024, but following the growing pressures throughout the hospitality sector, the team have made the decision to shut down their flagship brick-and-mortar site.
Confirming the news on Tuesday, The Last Stop informed their followers that this weekend will mark the venue’s very last round of service, “firing up the grills for the final time” and hosting one more big blowout on Saturday, 26 July.
They shared a lengthy statement explaining the reasoning behind their decision on Instagram, and fans of their food, drink and atmosphere are understandably gutted.
The post reads: “Despite a fantastic first year for The Last Stop, we’ve decided that the time is right to make a change in the Chapel.
“Over the last year, we’ve been fortunate enough to grow The Last Stop from scratch rapidly: collaborating with The Salmon of Knowledge bars (with a 3rd opening lined up for August), entering into the Egyptian Rooms [Oldham] Produce Hall [Stockport] food halls and having the pleasure of serving you thousands of burgers and gyros in the Heatons!”
“Nonetheless, whilst these ventures prove successful, well-documented cost increases and changes in consumer spending habits, since April in particular, have meant simply that our Heaton Chapel site in its current format is no longer economically viable.”
Bosses Dominic Ingleby and Niall Peters have gone on to assure that existing staff have secured positions at alternative branches, all suppliers have been fully paid up, and that their other locations are thankfully set to remain.
In fact, although one venue will be bidding a bittersweet goodbye, as hinted above, they will be moving into the old Dockyard bar over at MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, which is set to become another Salmon of Knowledge location.
The Last Stop Stockport might be closing but their NQ residence is staying put.As is their neighbouring Produce Hall pop-up stall.Credit: The Manc/The Last Stop (via IG)
We’re relieved to hear that The Last Stop name will be sticking around and it’s going for good, but Stopfordian residents are nevertheless gutted that the Heaton Chapel favourite, which became a regular quiz night, ‘sip and paint’ and late-night stop among locals, will soon be no more.
They sign off by adding: “We’d love to see you all this week for one last smashed cheese in the four walls where it all started, & to toast a pint or 7 on the Saturday!
“Thank you all for being a part of the journey and a pleasure to get to know. We’ll see you soon; maybe sooner than you think… Dom, Dom [Swarbrick] and Niall.”
We’ll leave you guys to try and figure out what that last bit means, but for now, thanks for the memories and the bloody good buns.
Emily Sergeant -
4th May 2023 
