Manchester Airport opens The Executive by Escape Lounges

Manchester Airport has opened The Executive by Escape Lounges, a new premium Terminal 2 lounge combining chef-led dining, immersive local design and distinctive hospitality to elevate the passenger experience.

Summary:

Manchester Airport has opened The Executive by Escape Lounges in Terminal 2, introducing a premium lounge experience centred on chef-led dining, premium drinks and Manchester-inspired design.
The lounge features what is believed to be the UK’s first airport lounge carvery, alongside live cooking, restaurant-style dining and locally sourced food and drink.
Developed by CAVU, The Executive reflects growing demand for differentiated airport hospitality, combining premium passenger experience with a strong sense of place and local identity.

Manchester Airport passengers can now enjoy a new way to start their journey, with The Executive by Escape Lounges officially opening in Terminal 2. Delivered by CAVU, part of Manchester Airports Group (a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub), The Executive has been designed for passengers looking for a more refined start to their journey, combining chef-led dining, premium drinks and Manchester-inspired spaces within one premium lounge experience.

At the heart of the experience is a chef-led dining offer that goes beyond the expected, including what is believed to be the UK’s first airport lounge carvery, alongside live cooking, made-to-order dishes, barista coffee, premium drinks and a collection of dining spaces designed to encourage guests to explore.

Open to all passengers travelling through Terminal 2, The Executive introduces five distinct areas, each offering a different part of the experience. Guests can enjoy freshly baked pastries, bakery favourites and grazing options at Leaf & Loaf, lighter dishes and deli-style options at The Humm, and chef-led hot dishes and live cooking at The Loom, where the new carvery experience takes centre stage. For those looking for something more refined, The Boll offers restaurant-style seated dining with table service and a chef-led menu. The food offer is supported by a selection of local suppliers and producers, helping create a stronger connection to Manchester before guests even leave the city.

“Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world,” said Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director, Manchester Airport. “Our £1.5 billion investment in Terminal 2 has transformed the experience for millions of passengers and The Executive is another exciting addition to that offer. Passengers increasingly want choice when they travel, and this new lounge provides something genuinely different. It combines premium hospitality with a distinctive food and drink experience, giving passengers another great way to start their journey.”

Beyond the food and drink, Manchester has been woven throughout the experience. The lounge features works from local artists, alongside design details inspired by the city’s industrial heritage, textile history, innovation and cultural pioneers. Travellers can discover subtle nods to Manchester throughout the space, from bee-inspired details and textile references to artwork installations and carefully selected local stories that create a stronger sense of place. The experience even ends with a playful final touch. Before heading to their gate, guests can visit The Executive’s bespoke ‘One Last Treat’ gumball machine, where tokens reveal locally inspired sweets, surprise rewards and complimentary future experiences.

“We wanted to create something genuinely different,” said Sarah Marshall, General Manager, The Executive by Escape Lounges. “The Executive has been designed to feel special from the moment guests arrive, with hospitality, food and thoughtful details at the centre of the experience. Dining plays a huge role in how people connect, celebrate and relax before they travel, so we wanted to create a lounge where food and drink are a defining part of the experience rather than simply something that’s available. From live cooking and chef-led dishes to local suppliers and seated dining, every element has been carefully considered to create a memorable start to the journey.”