Extra charges on hand luggage, never-ending security lines, and paying over the odds for an anaemic-looking baguette consumed under flickering fluorescent lights. Surely these have to be some of the worst aspects about travelling through an airport?
But with the school holidays fast approaching, many of us will find ourselves having to endure the stress and tedium of these transport hubs, keeping in mind the reward when we finally touch down at our destination - a sign that summer is finally underway.
To test this, and to provide you with a comprehensive guide ahead of the summer break, the Manchester Evening News What’s On Editor and Tourism Reporter spent a very long day navigating all three terminals, trying out the food and drink offered airside. We tried the Biscoff doughnut, which was priced at £3.60. It had a creamy Biscoff filling and was coated in Biscoff spread with crushed biscuit on the top and white chocolate shavings. Definitely one for fans of the famous biscuit, it didn’t disappoint and it was deliciously sweet without being sickly.
We tried a tomato and mozzarella toasted croissant and an Americano coffee £3.20. Of course, coffee is what Starbucks is famous for - if you’re after a caffeine pick-me-up, this is it. The croissant, which looked a little underwhelming and like it had been severely flattened, was surprisingly tasty, and, as it had been toasted the pastry remained crispy, which paired nicely with the melted cheese.
You order via the QR code and the menu states that they aim to serve all dishes in under 10 minutes. Coming in just under the seven-minute mark are the Birria Tacos with Mexican pulled lightly fried Mexican pulled beef, pickled slaw, rich Birria, gravy for dipping and seasoned fries. It won’t set your world alight, but it’s perfectly good for the price point and the beef in particular shines - well seasoned and boasting a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
For breakfast there’s options including the Bacon & Egg Mayo Breakfast Baguette , the aforementioned porridge and pastries such as almond croissants, pain aux raisins and cinnamon Danish . Moving into lunchtime, for those feeling virtuous, there’s Pret’s Green Goodness bowl which is £5.25 or £6.25 to dine in, plus sandwiches and wraps including the Hoisin Duck Wrap .
For scale, the Limited Edition Chicken Katsu comes in at £8.29, as does the Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese and Philly Beef Melt, while a Cheese and Tomato is £5.79, Tuna Mayonnaise £6.69, while the Chicken and Bacon Club is £7.19. We went for the Ham & Cheese , and, while we could see the top had been slightly toasted, this baguette was not a looker, just pale and sad looking.
Burger King The second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world and original home of The Whopper. If you travel through Manchester Piccadilly often enough, you’ll know it as the place still serving before the last train, and thus the potential solution to all your problems - well it might reduce the severity of your hangover the next day.
Coming in at £18.50 we were expecting quite a bit here, but the portion size felt a little snide. An assortment of Wiltshire ham, Lancashire cheese, figs, relish, local artisan sourdough, crackers, country pate, cornichons, celery, crackers and grapes sounded like a lot when we ordered but perhaps is more a serving for one than to share.
You can either 'grab and go', or nab a table and stay to watch the ebb and flow of passengers rushing to their gates at PKB's location, opposite the likes of Pret, Archie's and Barburrito. Either way, the coffee and food far exceed expectations for what is essentially a mass-transit franchise of a local fave. The sweet bakes including chocolate fudge cake , Blueberry Muffin and Millionaire Shortbread are hands down some of Manchester Airport's best.
You won’t be short of beer choice here: the full length bar has 36 keg beers. Prices start from £6 for a pint of Beck's, £6.50 for Crystal Lager, £6.50 for Bootleg American IPA, £6.70 for Trailblazer Stout, and £7 for Stella Artois, £7.50 for Peroni and Guinness - which is steep - so maybe just shut your eyes and don't think about it too much.
The excellent cauliflower 'wings' were delicious, though, but have gone up in price from £6 to £9.50, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to have a big impact on the sector. Lighter bites included a fresh kale, sweet potato and pomegranate salad, though this has increased from £10 to £15 since our last visit.
Insects aside, botanical cocktails and sustainably-sourced British fare is the name of the game here, though the former will set you back a fair bit - we're talking upwards of £13. Prices aside, the local link is woven in with great effort here, as illustrated by the lengths they've gone to incorporate honey from a small-batch supplier into their drinks.
San Carlo A stalwart of Manchester’s dining scene, San Carlo Group's first-ever airport venue certainly raises the bar for airport dining, and the legion of well-heeled travellers queuing outside suggests that things are already off to a flying start. There’s a deli counter so you can peruse the sandwich options - known as hoagies here - which will set you back £6.99 for a choice of beef & horseradish, chicken and guacamole, cheese ploughman's and crayfish. The little bites like the stuffed peppers and olives seemed a bit pricey at £5, but it’s ok because if you’re really being good they also randomly sell individual apples for 65p. Mixing things up, we go for a slice of chocolate caramel fudge cake .
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