Works are nearly complete on the new 280 sq. m. bar restaurant set to open at George Best Belfast City Airport as part of its £15m investment aimed at enhancing the customer experience.
The new bar restaurant, The Artisan, will hero produce from a number of Northern Irish suppliers, allowing passengers to enjoy a taste of Ulster when flying from the airport which is located just five minutes from Belfast city centre.
HMSHost UK Ltd., the airport food-service company which already operates existing catering facilities at Belfast City Airport, appointed Twelve-Studio, Sideland Group, Elite Shopfitters and ACS for the fit out of the unit which will have seating for 100+ people.
With completion expected towards the end of October, the opening of The Artisan will result in 15 new jobs at Belfast City Airport.
Charlotte Christiansen, HMSHost International Business Development Director, said:
“With timber counters, corrugated panels and a feature light wall complemented by touches of brass and glass, The Artisan will feel contemporary yet homely and comfortable for passengers to relax whilst they wait to board their flight.
“The menu will really showcase the best of local produce and through breakfasts, light bites and more substantial main dishes The Artisan will cater to the needs of the 2.6million passengers who use Belfast City Airport each year.
“HMSHost UK Ltd. is committed to providing an enjoyable culinary experience to passengers at all our outlets at Belfast City Airport – this includes St. George’s Market and Starbucks.”
As part of a £15m capital investment at Belfast City Airport, The Artisan follows the opening of new, improved World Duty Free and WHSmith retail units in the departure lounge now boasting 552 sq. m. of retail space. This is an overall increase of just over 30%, in addition to an increased product range.
Customer seating in the departure lounge has more than doubled, as have airside customer washroom facilities, which are now fully refurbished.
In addition to this, the central security area has undergone a significant upgrade now processing up to six passengers at a time. This, coupled with electronic boarding pass gates and new scanning equipment, has resulted in a huge reduction in the time it takes each passenger to make their way through Security.
Joanne Deighan, Commercial Manager at Belfast City Airport, said:
“The Artisan will represent a 25% increase in our food and beverage facilities with our partner HMSHost UK Ltd. providing a broader choice for our customers.
“We’re really happy with the designs and the progress of the works on site as our opening date approaches. The Artisan will be a different food and beverage offering to any outlets we have had previously, so it is a really exciting time and we are looking forward to opening the doors to our passengers.
“The Artisan has been a big part of the £15m investment in airport facilities announced earlier this year. The reconfiguration of the departure lounge and the central security area are significant projects and whilst we have worked extremely hard to make sure our passengers have not been inconvenienced throughout these works, we must thank them for their patience.”
The car park offering at the airport has been upgraded to now include a Premier Car Park option that includes Fast Track Security access for passengers and further investment in a new car park booking platform ensures an easy, user-friendly experience for customers.
For more information about the airport and its on-site facilities, please visit www.belfastcityairport.com.