The openings are part of the final phase of Terminal 2
Manchester’s Transformation Programme has been underway for what feels like an eternity. The pandemic set it back, but we’re still not there yet. Today, six new stores are opening in T2, representing about a quarter of the total announced last November.
What’s happening at MAN today?
Six new shops and eateries are opening:
- Manchester gains its second Joe & the Juice location (the first being in the city centre). This will open from 3:30am to 8pm
- An UpperCrust, joining their other MAN branch which is in T1
- A Starbucks, the fifth at the airport (Although their T1 stores are likely to close with the move to T2). This will open from 3:30am to either 9pm or 10pm.
- A Lego store
- Rituals
- Pandora
The openings are so new that they’re not yet listed on the Manchester Airport website.
There’s a lot more to come.
Twenty-two new restaurants and shops were set to open at T2 in Summer 2025. Whilst we have a month left in the season, it’s looking more likely that the next (and hopefully final) wave of openings will be later in the year. This may tie into the expected move of BA to T2. The date this happens is still up in the air, but talk is around October once the regular holiday season ends.
Given that these shops and restaurants were announced in November last year, there may have been some changes to this list, but here’s what is expected:
- Fever Tree bar
- Great Northern Market (seven eateries)
- Grindsmith by WHSmith
- Amber Alley
- JD Wetherspoon
- Costa Coffee (in arrivals)
- Greggs (in arrivals)
- Chanel
- Travelex
- WHSmith
- World Duty Free (x4, with x2 Express after security and 1 in arrivals)
- Boots (Arrivals)
Here’s the original video showcasing all the new openings
What is happening with the T2 transformation programme?
In short, it’s taking a lot longer than everyone expected. What’s happening at MAN overall, and not just in the T2 building, is complex. T1 and T3 are being partly merged; there are operating concerns around how passengers from UK flights (e.g. Heathrow) will be handled in T2, and at the same time, a new Emirates lounge is being created at MAN. And potentially a new oneworld lounge in T2, or a premium lounge for premium passengers.
T2’s transformation has now reached its tenth birthday. That does seem an awfully long time.
The latest press release simply calls today’s openings the “latest milestone” and “further shops and restaurants are expected to open later this year”
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