Airport passengers at Manchester Airport can now book into a new premium Terminal 2 lounge built around chef-led dining, runway views and what is being billed as the UK’s first airport lounge carvery. The Executive by Escape Lounges has opened ahead of the summer travel peak, with buffet access from £57.99, walk-in entry priced at £69.99 and a seated dining option from £82.99 due to open for eligible airline guests later this year, The WP Times reports.
The lounge has been delivered by CAVU, part of Manchester Airports Group, and is aimed at travellers who want more than the standard pre-flight airport experience. Instead of a simple buffet and bar, The Executive combines five separate food and drink areas, local Manchester suppliers, private WiFi, charging points, in-lounge bathrooms, a carvery station, live cooking and restaurant-style table service in a space designed around Manchester’s industrial and cultural identity.
What is inside Manchester Airport’s new premium lounge
The Executive by Escape Lounges is located in Terminal 2, the centre of Manchester Airport’s long-running transformation programme. The airport has been investing heavily in the terminal as part of a wider £1.5bn upgrade designed to improve the passenger journey for millions of travellers across the North. The new lounge is open to passengers travelling through Terminal 2 and gives access from two and a half hours before the scheduled flight departure. That means guests can spend around two hours inside the lounge before heading to the gate.
The key selling point is food. Manchester Airport says the lounge has been designed with dining at the centre, rather than as a side feature. The biggest headline is the airport carvery, which sits alongside live cooking, made-to-order dishes, pastries, deli-style options, barista coffee, premium drinks and seated dining.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Lounge name | The Executive by Escape Lounges |
| Airport | Manchester Airport |
| Terminal | Terminal 2 |
| Main feature | UK-first airport lounge carvery |
| Entry price | From £57.99 pre-booked |
| Walk-in price | £69.99 |
| Seated Dining | From £82.99 |
| Access window | 2.5 hours before departure |
| Lounge time | Around 2 hours |
| Children | Under-threes enter free |
Why the airport carvery matters
The carvery is not just a novelty. It gives Manchester Airport a clear point of difference in a crowded airport lounge market, where passengers are increasingly comparing value before paying extra for comfort before a flight. For British travellers, the idea of a roast-style airport meal is instantly recognisable. It also fits the summer holiday market, where families, couples and business passengers may want a calmer start before flying from one of the UK’s busiest regional airports.
The food offer is split across several named areas. Leaf & Loaf focuses on pastries, bakery items and lighter grazing. The Humm offers lighter dishes and deli-style options. The Loom is where the hot dishes, live cooking and carvery are positioned. The Boll is the more formal seated dining area, with table service and a chef-led menu.
That structure matters because it means the lounge is not only targeting one type of passenger. A family may want buffet access and quick plates before a holiday flight. A business traveller may prefer quieter seating, coffee, WiFi and charging points. Airline guests eligible for seated dining may use the lounge more like a restaurant before departure.
How much does The Executive at Manchester Airport cost
Prices start from £57.99 per person for the pre-booked Buffet experience. The walk-in price is £69.99, which makes advance booking the cheaper option for passengers who know they want lounge access before they travel. The Seated Dining experience is priced from £82.99 per person. That will open for booking later this year and will initially be available only to eligible airline guests.
| Option | Price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Buffet pre-booked | From £57.99 | Cheapest confirmed access |
| Buffet walk-in | £69.99 | Available without advance booking, subject to space |
| Seated Dining | From £82.99 | Restaurant-style table service, opening later |
For passengers, the practical question is whether the price is worth it. The answer depends on timing, group size and travel style. For someone already planning to buy breakfast, coffee, drinks and a quieter place to work, the lounge may make sense. For a short domestic-style trip with little waiting time, the value is less obvious.
What food and drink does the new airport lounge offer
The Executive is built around a more local version of premium airport dining. Instead of relying only on generic lounge food, the offer includes Manchester and North West suppliers. The supplier list includes cheese from Chorlton Cheesemongers, coffee from Ground Effect Coffee Roasters, gin from Spirit of Manchester Distillery, beer from JW Lees Brewery, bakery products from Martins Bakery and ice cream from Grandpa Greene’s in Uppermill.
That local supplier strategy gives the lounge a stronger identity. It also links the airport experience to Manchester itself, which is useful for both inbound travellers and passengers beginning a journey from the North West. Main food areas
- Leaf & Loaf: pastries, bakery favourites and grazing options.
- The Humm: lighter dishes and deli-style choices.
- The Loom: hot dishes, live cooking and the carvery.
- The Boll: seated dining with table service and chef-led plates.
- Bar area: premium drinks, coffee and local alcohol suppliers.
What Manchester Airport says about the new lounge
Sarah Marshall, General Manager at The Executive by Escape Lounges, said the aim was to create something “genuinely different” and to make the lounge feel special from arrival. She said dining was central because food and drink help passengers “connect, celebrate and relax before they travel” (Sarah Marshall, General Manager, The Executive by Escape Lounges, speaking on the launch of the Terminal 2 lounge).
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, linked the opening to the airport’s wider Terminal 2 investment. He said Manchester Airport was proud to “connect the North to the world” and described The Executive as another addition to the improved passenger offer following the £1.5bn Terminal 2 transformation (Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director, Manchester Airport, commenting on the lounge opening).
How the design connects the lounge to Manchester
The lounge is not only about food. The design includes Manchester references throughout the space, including bee-inspired details, textile references, local artwork and features linked to the city’s industrial heritage. That matters because many premium airport spaces can feel anonymous. Manchester Airport is trying to make this lounge feel connected to the city rather than just another paid waiting area. The result is a lounge built around both comfort and place.
There is also a playful final feature: a bespoke “One Last Treat” gumball machine. Passengers can use tokens before leaving for the gate, with rewards including locally inspired sweets, surprise treats and future experience offers.
Who should book The Executive at Manchester Airport
The lounge is most likely to appeal to passengers with longer airport waits, families travelling during peak summer periods, business passengers needing WiFi and charging points, and travellers who want a calmer start before a holiday flight. It may be especially useful for passengers flying from Terminal 2 during busy morning or school-holiday periods, when airport restaurants and cafés can become crowded. The lounge gives more predictable seating, food access and a quieter environment. However, it is still a premium product. At nearly £58 per person before extras or upgrades, it is not a budget option. For a family of four, the cost can rise quickly, although children under three are free. Passengers can pre-book The Executive by Escape Lounges online or try to walk up on the day. Pre-booking is cheaper and safer, especially during summer holiday periods when airport lounges can sell out. The most important detail is timing. Access is available from two and a half hours before the scheduled flight departure, giving around two hours in the lounge. Passengers should still leave enough time to reach the gate, especially for long-haul or busy departures.
Manchester Airport has opened The Executive by Escape Lounges in Terminal 2 as a premium airport lounge with chef-led food, a UK-first airport lounge carvery, local Manchester suppliers, runway views and prices from £57.99. The launch strengthens Terminal 2’s upgraded passenger offer and gives travellers a higher-end alternative to standard airport restaurants before flying.
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