Manchester Airport: All 22 new T2 restaurants & shops

The final phase of Terminal 2 opens in Summer 2025

It’s been a long time coming, but we’re just nine months (ish) off the opening of the final phase of Terminal 2. That means 22 new places to eat or shop. If you include all the venues within the new food hall, it’s a whopping 28.

What’s this all about?

Manchester Airport is going through a transformation programme. A key part of this was modernising Terminal 2, which happened in two stages.

The first stage completed back in 2021, the second stage is due to complete in Summer 2025. When that’s done T2 will become a “super terminal”, T1 will close and the miserable and aged T3 will get some kind of revamp.

This is a huge project for MAN and it’s passengers. Long derided as the worst of the large airports in the UK, and just recently voted the worst out of all UK airports, MAN does have big plans and the airport is getting better.

Is Manchester the worst airport right now, or is the past still haunting it? It depends which terminal you fly from. T3 is absolutely one of, if not the, worst terminal in the UK. T2 however, is the future. It's bright, modern, and it's a genuinely decent place to travel through. The lounge issue needs fixing, and the security staff need paying more, but it's not bad. 

Firstly, what has NOT been announced?

There’s been no word on new airport lounges. T2 is going to get crowded with airlines, and a decent number of those service premium passengers.

The feeling is that T2 needs more lounges and dedicated ones (rather than the somewhat mid-level ones run by MAN themselves). A oneworld lounge at Manchester Airport would make sense.

What IS happening

22 or 28 new venues, depending on how you look at it.

Firstly a food hall, “The Great Northern Market”, is opening. This will have six “international street food kitchens” and a concession by Gooey, the popular doughnut and dessert venue in the Northern Quarter. Go back a long time. T2 did have a food court of sorts, but it had more of a service station vibe. This promises to be better – and the great thing about food halls is you can dine together, but eat from different places. Perfect for those groups with picky-eaters.

Fever Tree is a venue from the premium mixer brand. It’s more than just a concession; it’s a nicely sized venue that offers drinks centred around – of course – fever tree mixers. It self-describes as a “Cocktails and Champagne bar.”

Manchester’s first Joe And The Juice will be opening at the airport. The Danish chain is popular in the US, and has a vegan and vegetarian friendly menu, plus a great selection of freshly made juices.

There’s also an interesting venue due to open called “Grindsmiths by WHSmith”. Is this the Grindsmith brand crossing over to the WHSmith brand? We’ll find out next Summer.

Salford’s Seven Bro7thers will also be extending their Amber Alehouse venue, with the new venue being called Amber Alley. Expect pub vibes.

A Wetherspoons will be opening at the airport. Surprisingly, the first one at MAN. Not to be sniffed at, as it’s a well-priced, easy option for families.

Saving the best till last, T2 will be getting a second duty-free store from World Duty-Free, but this one’s more focused on high brands. You can never have too many in an airport, so there are an additional two World Duty Free Express’s in the new T2.

There’s a host of shops, including Chanel, Pandora, Rituals and a Lego store. Some of the will exist in a “Boutique Mall”, others in a “high street style shopping strip” which is called The Avenue.

There are also some upgrades to the arrivals area in T2, with Boots, Costa, Greggs, Travelex and World Duty-Free Express opening up. It’s slightly less exciting than the departures area, but who doesn’t love a Greggs after a red-eye flight?

The full list of new restaurants and shops at Manchester T2