Liverpool John Lennon Airport has taken a little pop at their rivals here in Manchester after picking up another big nod in the travel industry.
Although Liverpool’s airport may not be as big and busy as Manchester’s, the main Merseyside terminal was named as the best in the UK according to Which? for 2024, and it’s by no means the first time they’ve picked up the accolade.
Having picked up the same award in 2023 and being rated highly by many other bodies for many years, it’s yet another thing for Scousers to be very proud of in their city and, in fairness, Manchester Airport hasn’t had a great week. As a result, the ever-modest Liverpudlians were gracious in their victory…
Just kidding, they wasted no time in putting together a quick little celebratory poster on their socials that’s turned out to be a bit of a meme at Manchester Airport’s expense.
Touché, John Lennon – not the actual one, obviously.
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Yes, the historic rivalry between Manchester is fiercely fought as it is long-standing. As they rightly put it, they have The Beatles, we have Oasis; they have Liverpool and Everton, we have City and United, but when it comes to airport experiences, they have the clear edge.
Having become the UK’s only airport with a five-star rating from the world’s leading air travel intelligence back in 2019, Liverpool John Lennon has maintained a sterling reputation ever since and the most recent independent survey of passengers found that they top satisfaction levels across the board.
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Which? polled over 4,000 customers, with 83% of them labelling it a “first-class experience from start to finish” and also giving them the best rating for bag drop, passport control, baggage reclaim, staffing, toilets and more. The single terminal also boasts just an 11-minute waiting time to get through security.
Conversely, they named Manchester Airport the worst in the UK for 2023 and still in the top 10 UK for the longest waiting times, with the majority of Manc flyers in agreement that terminals one and three are still in need of significant updating after around £440 million was invested in T2 last year.
So yeah, we can still strongly argue the case that we have the music, food, football and plenty of other things here in Manchester, but it’s fair to say that Liverpool John Lennon is currently the superior place to fly from.
Drinks prices revealed as Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub opens inside T2
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Manchester Airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon pub has officially opened its doors inside Terminal 2.
The 300-seater pub – which welcomed its first customers earlier this week – is named The Belle Vue after Manchester’s historic showground.
Throughout the pub, you’ll spot design features that nod to the city’s sporting heritage – including vintage event posters and memorabilia, a ‘locker wall’ hosting trophies and other sporting exhibits, and a cricket-themed design in the carpets and bar panels.
Creating around 150 jobs in the process, The Belle Vue is the final planned new eatery to open in the airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2, marking one of the final steps in the super-terminal’s decade-long, £1.5bn transformation.
Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub has opened inside Terminal 2 / Credit: Supplied
According to the MEN, pints are priced from £6.20 for Carling and Coors lager, £6.45 for Budweiser, £6.60 for Guinness, and £6.70 for Poretti and 1664 Biere.
Prosecco is £9.20 for 175ml glass and £37.10 for the full bottle, while spirts and mixers are £6.80 for singles and £10.20 for doubles.
There’s also the classic Wetherspoons tea and coffee machines, where you can refill as many times as you like for just £3.60.
“It’s a proud moment to see the final new retail unit opening in our new-look Terminal 2,” commented Richard Jackson, who is the Retail Director at Manchester Airport.
“To be rounding off this 10-year programme by adding such an iconic name as Wetherspoon to the terminal is particularly special and we know that it will prove extremely popular with passengers. We think they’ll love the nods to Manchester’s heritage in the décor and design – and of course the name.”
The Belle Vue will be open from the first flight to the final flight each day, and food will be served from opening until 10pm.
Featured Image – Supplied
Travel & Tourism
Etihad Stadium showcases City Hall, the new beating heart of Manchester City match days
Lonnie Bowes
There’s a particular kind of Manchester buzz you only get pitch-side. If you’re a seasoned Cityzen this one’s for you – one of three major new hospitality options for your next game day at the Etihad Stadium.
Tucked in the heart of the new Pep Guardiola Stand, directly behind the goal, we have the brand-new City Hall.
City Hall is built for people who actually want to watch football in comfort, and with a massive 500 capacity hall a stone’s throw from the pitch, it’s a hard one to pass up.
Doors open a full two hours before the match, and that early access turns the day into an occasion rather than a scramble.
There’s time to properly soak up the atmosphere in what is a genuinely lively, buzzing bar, and I have to say potentially one of the best I’ve come across on a match day.
Food and drink are where the local flavour really comes through. The street food menu leans into Manchester’s own identity with a modern twist.
The catering is relaxed and doesn’t take itself too seriously, let’s just say having a chip barm and chicken madras pie on the run-up to a kick-off is my idea of heaven.
Every guest gets an inclusive drink as part of your booking, too. You get to pick from a selected wine, beer or soft drink which you can claim at any point during your visit.
It’s a setup that suits everyone, whether you’re in it for a proper pre-match pint with your mates or meal with your family before a day of making pitch side memories.
The little touches matter too. A matchday programme is a nice, old-school addition in an era where so much matchday content has gone digital.
And crucially, the experience doesn’t end at the final whistle: with an hour’s access after the match, there’s no need to bolt for the exits the second the referee blows for full-time. You can sit and finish your drink, and let the ground empty out around you instead of fighting through it.
Put it all together and City Hall feels like hospitality done with an actual sense of place.
Manchester street food, a proper buzzing bar, and one of the best seats in the house, all wrapped around a schedule that respects the fact that match day is about more than just the 90 minutes.
For anyone looking to upgrade how they watch City this season, it’s well worth a look.
Have a look and make a booking at City Hall at the Etihad Stadium HERE.
Danny Jones -
28th June 2024 
