Belle Vue seats 300 players. (Image: MEN)
The UK’s third-busiest airport will soon be home to its first-ever Wetherspoons pub – but fans may be surprised by the price of a pint.
A brand new beer garden is set to open in Manchester Airport’s new Terminal 2 building. Belle Vue, named after the town’s greyhound stadium and speedway, aims to celebrate the north west’s sporting heritage, paying tribute to Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford, Warrington darts champion Luke Littler and Man’s favorite boxer Ricky Hatton.
It can accommodate up to 300 customers and will be open from the first to the last trip every day, from approximately 3:00 to 22:00 daily, it said. Manchester Evening News. Wetherspoons have now confirmed that pints of Belle Vue will cost from £6.20, while unlimited coffee will set you back £3.60.
Inside the pub with an area of 338 sq. There is plenty of retro style seating in dark green and brown leather and a unique carpet. The airport pub boasts a geometric design that, if you look closely, you can see cricket bats in it.
Wetherspoon regional manager Barry Brewster said the pub group had been eyeing a site at Manchester Airport for many years and were delighted to finally find the right location – in what was formerly part of the Terminal 2 concourse.
He said: “Wherever we open we try to explore the local history, it gives the pub personality and soul. People from Manchester know all about the history of the Belle Vue and certainly have a fondness for it, but we always try to include a lot of information to tell people about that history inside the pub too.
“The interiors have a lot to do with Belle Vue, but also northern sport in general. The lockers symbolize sporting achievements and show that there is more to the north than just football – there is darts, cricket, racing, cycling and plaques for people who are synonymous with Manchester and sport.”
It will be Wetherspoon’s eighth airport in the UK – three at Gatwick, three at Heathrow and one in Edinburgh. They also have one in Alicante and plans to open two more at Barcelona Airport in 2027.
But while Wetherspoons may be famous for cheap food and drink in cities and towns, Manchester passengers should prepare for more expensive pints and plates at Spoons airport.
A pint of beer at The Belle Vue will cost at least £6.20. (Image: MEN)
Pints cost 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 costs £9.20 for a 175ml glass and £37.10 for a full bottle, while spirits and mixers cost £6.80 for a single and £10.20 for a double. Breakfast is served until 11 am. Main courses such as a large breakfast cost £14.75, while a main menu with burgers and chips costs £14.45, fish and chips cost £17.75 and an all-day brunch costs £14.40.
Defending the prices, Barry said it will still be the cheapest place to buy a pint at the airport when they open. He said: “We always try to offer better value for money wherever we are compared to our competitors and we do the same at the airport. We monitor prices and check our prices against our competitors.”
Belle Vue is the latest planned new venue to open at the airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2, marking one of the final steps in the super terminal’s decade-long, £1.5 billion transformation which has seen it more than double in size to become the center of the northern hub and win a prestigious UNESCO-backed award.
There are many references to Manchester’s sporting history. (Image: MEN)
Richard Jackson, Director of Retail at Manchester Airport, said: “It is a proud moment to see the latest new retail store open in our refurbished Terminal 2, a world-class facility with an unrivaled range of options for passengers to eat, drink and shop.
“Completing this 10-year program by adding such an iconic name as Wetherspoon to the terminal is special and we know it will prove hugely popular with passengers. We think they will love the nod to Manchester’s heritage in the decor and design – and of course in the name.”
Pub manager Jenny Warburton said: “My team and I are looking forward to welcoming customers to The Belle Vue and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to the airport hospitality scene.”
The revamped Terminal 2 includes the newly opened Great North Market, Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar, as well as a Chanel store and stores from major retail brands including Lego, Rituals and Pandora.
Other openings in the past couple of years have included Starbucks, Joe & The Juice, San Carlo and Upper Crust in the departures hall, and Costa, Greggs and WHSmith in the arrivals hall.